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BEADLE’S AMERICAN" BATTLES. 


PITTSBURG LANDING, 

(SHILOH,) 

AND THE 


INVESTMENT OF CORINTH. 


DRAWN FROM 


ORIGINAL SOURCES, OFFICERS’ REPORTS, ETC.; WITH 
ANECDOTES, INCIDENTS, ETC. 

(KvU\e e«. V.' cHr 



BEADLE AND COMPANY, 

NEW YORK: 141 WILLIAM STREET. 

LONDON: 44 PATERNOSTER ROW. 

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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1862, by 
BEADLE AND COMPANY, 

In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the 
Southern District of New York. 



( 


INTRODUCTORY. 


The version here given of the Battle of Pittsburg Landing is 
such as we have been able to compile from the official reports 
of the division and brigade commanders, from the correspon¬ 
dence of news reporters and from the letters of those engaged 
on the field during those two most sanguinary and exciting 
days. These materials were ample for the production of a sat¬ 
isfactory narrative—something which the public demands 
should be placed within its reach. The news reporters spread 
far and wide such varied versions of the accidents and incidents 
of the battles, as to confuse the public mind. This confusion, 
however, the reports referred to have cleared up; and we are 
therefore able to present the story as it will doubtless be told 
in history. The correspondents for the press gave narratives 
of great interest; from their letters we have culled such mate¬ 
rial memoranda and incidents as seemed to add to the complete¬ 
ness of the story. 

Of the “siege” of Corinth we have written,as the. data at 
hand permitted. It will be found less specific in detail than the 
account of the conflicts of April 6th and 7tli, owing to the 
neglect of the commanding officer to publish the official reports 
submitted by his Generals. The comparatively uninteresting 
nature of the events which characterized the seven weeks’ 
“ approach ” to Corinth renders the absence of these reports a 



iv 


INTRODUCTORY. 


matter of little moment; the more general narratives of reporters 
for the press answering every purpose to give a clear idea of 
the slow investment of the rebel stronghold and its shrewdly 
conceived evacuation—leaving Halleck’s tremendous army 
without an enemy to fight. O. J. Y. 


BATTLE OF 


PITTSBURG LANDING. 


FIRST DAY’S CONFLICT. 

GATHERING OF THE HOSTS. 

After the series of splendid victories which resulted in 
the occupation of the capital of Tennessee by the Federal forces, 
Generals Buell and Grant found themselves confronted by a 
powerful army prepared to dispute their further progress with 
desperation. The rebel cause, would irreparably suffer in 
event of further defeat in the heart of their Confederacy. 
Foote might thunder away at the gates of the Mississippi— 
Porter might send the echoes of his mighty mortars through 
the lagunes of Louisiana—Pope might plot his way down to 
Memphis; but all these had less terror for the secession 
leaders than Buell’s and Grant’s advancing hosts, placed in 
the hand of Halleck to maneuver with his superior strategy. 
To stay their onward march would be to check the entire 
campaign in the Mississippi valley; and, if victory should 
crown the Southern arms, the tide of defeat might not only 
be stayed, but Nashville and Donelson might be regained; 
Island No. 10 might be held, and the Unionists forced back 
into Kentucky in a disorganized condition. This was surely 
a work of magnitude, and would require not only the men 
but the officers equal to a desperate emergency. 

General A. Sidney Johnston was detached from the army 
of the Potomac to command this central campaign. Beauregard 
■was made second in command. Manassas and Centreville 
were evacuated, and the lines drawn more closely around the 
capital of Virginia in order to allow a heavy detachment to 
follow on after the two leaders. Bragg was recalled from 
Pensacola, where so long he had watched and plotted for 
victory but found it not; and with him came the flower of 



6 


BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING. 


his host—a well-drilled, thoroughly-ordered division of artillery 
and infantry. The shattered divisions of Pillow and Floyd 
were available. Bishop Polk’s Columbus column was in good 
order, and reported to be “ eager for the fray.” Hardee, 
Cheaham, Hindman, all were given brigades. The remnant 
of General Sterling Price’s Missouri army was brought into 
requisition, and Governor Jackson’s auxiliary corps was 
recalled from its inglorious career west of the Mississippi to 
add to the imposing array. General Breckenridge, with his 
“ gallant army,” was also requested to take the field and try 
to earn a name. All these elements combined to form the 
heart of the new army; while, to swell its numbers, the most 
extraordinary efforts were made by the State and Confederate 
authorities, even to impressing where drafting failed to force 
men into the ranks. Six weeks served to concentrate and 
render effective this newly-created host, and the Federal leaders 
became aware that at Corinth the great struggle must be made 
which would make or break the Southern cause in the 
West.* 

The several divisions of Buell’s army began to move 
forward from Nashville and its western line of occupation late 
in March. The design was a combination of the two armies 
—to make a junction with Grant’s forces on the west bank of 
the Tennessee, taking up a line of advance between Savannah 
and Purdy. This junction it was the aim-of rebel strategy to 
prevent. It called Johnston and Beauregard out of their 
strong position on the hills of Corinth to make the desperate 
onslaught at Shiloh, or Pittsburg Landing—an assault which 
came nearer to a victory for their arms than we care to 
contemplate. 

The occupation of Savannah, by General Grant, was made 
about the middle of March, and his advance (left wing, Sher- 

* To show what importance Johnston attached to the impending battle, 
we may quote from his address to his army, dated April 3d: 

“ Soldiers : I have put you in motion to offer battle to the invaders of 
your country, with the resolution, discipline and valor becoming men 
fighting, as you are, for all worth living and dying for. You can but march 
to a decided victory over agrarian mercenaries , sent to subjugate you and 
to despoil you of your liberties, property and honor. 

“ Remember the precious stake involved 1 Remember the dependence 
of your mothers, your wives, your sisters and your children on the result I 
Remember the fair, broad, abounding lands, the happy homes that will be 
desolated by your defeat 1 The eyes and hopes of eight millions of people 
rest upon you I” etc., etc. 


FIRST REPORTS OF THE RATTLE. 


7 


man’s division,) pushed forward to Shiloh. Buell’s divisions 
advancing south from Nashville were those of Generals 
Nelson, Mitchell, Crittenden, McCook and Thomas. These 
were followed by the divisions of Generals Wood and Negeley, 
which were encamped closely around Nashville. At the 
moment of the arrangement regarding the junction of the 
forces at or near Savannah, preparatory to a combined attack 
on Corinth, Mitchell’s forces were pushed forward to Murfrees¬ 
boro ; and, as a part of the programme, suddenly struck down 
upon the Charleston and Memphis railroad to break that 
important line of rebel communication with the East. The 
divisions of McCook, Thomas, Crittenden and Nelson were on 
the Columbia road, stretching from Duck river to Rutherford 
creek. The divisions of Wood and Negeley, as stated, were 
at Nashville. 

Ascertaining, with their usual success, the plans of the 
Federals, the rebel Generals determined to strike at a moment 
when a blow was not expected—to surprise the advance 
Union divisions, and, by pressing them in with an overwhelm¬ 
ing force, to create a panic and thus drive them over the- 
Tennessee. That this was their design the conflict which 
followed proved 

FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE BATTLE TO THE PUBLIC. 

The first news which reached the North and East was 
dated from Fort Henry, April 9th, giving a hurried general 
announcement of the two days’ struggle—a somewhat exagger¬ 
ated, but in the main correct, statement of the fight—which 
was published in extras ,' and served to create the most intense 
excitement among all classes. Bulletin boards were every¬ 
where besieged—newspaper offices were thronged—telegraph 
stations were fairly beleaguered—everybody was a news 
messenger to his neighbor, and all awaited further particulars 
with a most painful interest. The army engaged was com¬ 
posed almost wholly of western men. Probably every county 
and town of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin 
were represented there. The exaggerated report of twenty 
thousand killed and wounded could but cause the most har¬ 
rowing suspense.. The first announcement above referred to 
was, in part, as follows: 


8 


BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING. 


“ Pittsburg, via Fort Henry, April 9tli, 3.20 A. m. 

“ One of the greatest and bloodiest battles of modern days 
has just closed, resulting in the complete rout of the enemy, 
■who attacked us at daybreak Sunday morning. 

“ The battle lasted 'without intermission during the entire 
day, and was again renewed on Monday morning, and con¬ 
tinued undecided until four o'clock in the afternoon, when the 
enemy commenced their retreat, and are still flying toward 
Corinth, pursued by a large force of our cavalry. 

“The slaughter on both sides is immense. We have lost 
in killed, and wounded, and missing, from eighteen to twenty 
thousand; that of the enemy is estimated at from thirty-five 
to forty thousand. 

“ The fight was brought on by a body of three hundred 
of the 25th Missouri regiment, of General Prentiss’ divi¬ 
sion, attacking the advance guard of the rebels, which were 
supposed^ to be the pickets of the enemy, in front of our 
camps. The rebels immediately advanced on General Prentiss’ 
division on the left wing,* pouring volley after volley of 
musketry, and riddling our camps with grape, canister and 
shell. Our forces soon formed into line, and returned their 
fire vigorously ;* but by the time we were prepared to receive 
them, they had turned their heaviest fire on the left center, 
Sherman’s division, and drove our men back from their camps, 
and bringing up a fresh force, opened fire on our left wing, 
under General McClernand. This fire was returned with 
terrible effect and determined spirit by. both infantry and 
artillery aiong the whole line, for ,a distance of over four 
miles. 

“ General Hurlburt’s division was thrown forward to sup¬ 
port the center, when a desperate conflict ensued. The rebels 
were driven back with terrible slaughter, but soon rallied and 
drove back our men in turn. From about nine o’clock, the 
time your correspondent arrived on the field, until night 
closed on the bloody scene, there was no determination of the 
result of the struggle. The rebel regiments exhibited remark¬ 
ably good generalship. At times engaging the left with 

* This account, in common with most all others made by newspaper 
reporters, was incorrect in the particulars of the enemy’s first advance. 
By referring to the narrative following, (page 16,) the reader will find the 
correct statement of the first assault. 


THE FIRST DAY’S STRUGGLE. 


9 


apparently their whole strength, theywould suddenly open a 
terrible and destructive fire on the right or center. Even our 
heaviest and most destructive fire upon.,the enemy did not 
appear to discourage their solid columns. The fire of Major 
Taylor’s Chicago artillery raked them down in scores, but the 
smoke would no sooner be dispersed than the breach would 
again be filled. 

“ The most desperate fighting took place late in the after¬ 
noon. The rebels knew that if they did not succeed in whip¬ 
ping us then, that their chances for success would be extremely 
doubtful, as a portion of General Buell’s forces had by this 
time arrived on the opposite side of the river, and another 
portion w r as coming up the river from Savannah. They 
became- aware that w r e were being reinforced, as they could 
see General Buell’s troops from the river-bank, a short 
distance above us on the left, to which point they had forced 
their way. 

“ At five o’clock the rebels had forced our left wdng back 
so as to occupy fully twm-thirds of our camp, and were fight¬ 
ing their way forward wfith a desperate degree of confidence 
in their efforts to drive us into the river, and at the same time 
heavily engaged our right. 

“ Up to this time w r e had received no reinforcements, 
General Lew r . Wallace failing to come to our support until 
the day was over, having taken the w r rong road from Crump’s 
Landing, and being without other transports than those used 
for Quartermaster’s and Commissary stores, which were too 
heavily laden to ferry any considerable number of General 
Buell’s forces across the river, those that were here having 
been sent to bring up the troops from Savannah. We were, 
therefore, contesting against fearful odds, our force not 
exceeding thirty-eight thousand men, while that of the enemy 
was upward of sixty thousand. __ 

“ Our condition fit this moment w T as extremely critical. 
Large numbers of men panic-stricken, others worn out by 
hard fighting, with the average percentage of skulkers, had 
struggled tow T ard the river, and could not be rallied. General 
Grant and staff, wdio had been recklessly riding along the 
lines during the entire day, amid the unceasing storm of 
bullets, grape and shell, now rode from right to left, inciting 


10 


BATTLE OF PITTSBURGH LANDING. 


the men t,o stand firm until our reinforcements could cross 
the river. x 

“ Colonel Webster, Chief of Staff, immediately got into 
position the heaviest pieces of artillery, pointing on the 
enemy’s right, while a large number of the batteries were 
planted along the entire line, from the river-bank north-west 
to our extreme right, some two and a half miles distant 
About an hour before dusk a general cannonading w 7 as opened 
upon the enemy from along our whole line, with a perpetual 
crack of musketry. Such a roar of artillery was never heard 
on this continent. For a short time the rebels replied with 
vigor and effect, but their return shots grew less frequent and 
destructive, while ours grew more rapid and more terrible. 

“ The gunboats Lexington and Tyler, which lay a short 
distance off, kept raining shell on the rebel hordes. This 
last effort was too much for the enemy, and, ere dusk had set 
in, the firing had nearly ceased, when night coming on, all 
the combatants rested from their awful work of blood and 
carnage.” 

Then followed a list of the leading officers known to have 
been killed or wounded. It was meager, but gave names 
enough to plunge the country into mourning. Over Congress 
it threw a shadow which was betokened by the silence reign¬ 
ing in the halls after the news was received. That splendid 
army of the Union comprised some of the country’s bravest 
spirits among its commanders, and all dreaded to read the lists 
which were hourly looked for after the receipt of the first 
news. The dispatch added: 

“ There has never been a parallel to the gallantry and 
bearing of our officers, from the commanding General to the 
lowest officer. General Grant and staff were in the field, 
riding along the lines in the thickest of the enemy’s fire 
during the entire two days of the battle, and all slept on the 
ground Sunday night, during a heavy -rain; On several 
occasions General Grant got within range of the enemy’s 
guns, and w 7 as discovered and fired upon. Lieutenant-Colonel 
McPherson had his horse shot from under him when along¬ 
side of General Grant. General Sherman had two horses killed 
under him, and General McClernand shared like dangers ; also 
General Hurlburt, each of whom received bullet-holes through 


SCENE OF TIIE CONFLICT. 


11 


' their clothes. General Buell remained with his troops during 
the entire day, and with General Crittenden and General Nel¬ 
son, rode continually along the lines encouraging the men.” 

NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS. 

The public did not wait long for further news. The leading 
journals of Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis, all had special 
correspondents with the army, and to them is the country 
indebted for the lengthy and exciting if not entirely trust¬ 
worthy accounts of the battle, which soon found their way 
over the country. The best of them, however, were rather 
the picturesque narratives of partial and excited observers, 
than correct statements of those familiar with the details and 
ensemble of the whole affair. Their guesses, positive declara¬ 
tions of fact based on current rumor, adoption of views 
based on their own meager knowledge of military .affairs, did 
not give the world the most correct versions of the affair; 
still, being liotliing but observers, they were valuable witnesses, 
and from their letters we shall be able to glean much interest¬ 
ing data. The reports of the commanders shall, however, be 
our main reliance. 

SCENE OF THE CONFLICT. 

The place chosen for the struggle occupied a semicircle of 
about three and a half miles from the town of Pittsburg, the 
Federal forces being stationed in the form of a semicircle, the 
right resting on a point north of Crump’s Landing, the center 
being directly in front of the main road to Corinth, and the 
left extending to the river, in the direction of Hamburg—a 
small place four miles north of Pittsburg Landing. 

Pittsburg Landing is in Hardin county, Tenn., two 
hundred and forty miles from the mouth of the Tennessee 
river, ten miles from Savannah, and fifteen miles from the 
Mississippi border. It is marked by two houses, on an emi¬ 
nence of about fifty feet above the river. These houses were 
thoroughly riddled by the gunboats when the national force 
first approached, having been used as quarters for the enemy. 
The Landing was the leading point of shipment and receipt 
for the produce and goods of all that section of country, prior 
to the completion of the Memphis and Charleston railway. 


12 


BATTLE OP PITTSBURG LANDING. 


Tlie country stretched away from the Landing along a broad 
ridge, which was pierced at intervals by deep ravines, running 
mostly in a south-westerly direction, and covered with scrub-oak 
growing so closely together as to render it impossible for either 
cavalry or infantry to pass among the trees without great con¬ 
fusion. This “ black-jack ” thicket the Confederates effectually 
used as a covert. It is stated that from the river-bank to the 
furthest line of the national camps there were but three open 
fields, of from fifteen to twenty-five acres each. It was when 
the enemy endeavored to cross these, into the heavier forest 
on the top of the ridge, that our troops were enabled to do 
them the most damage. 

DISPOSITION OF THE FEDERAL FORCES. 

Grant had advanced his entire forces over the Tennessee, 
and only awaited the coming up of Buell’s divisions to assail 
the enemy intrenched at Corinth. Sherman’s division had 
the extreme advance, left wing, supported by General Prentiss; 
McClernand held the left center; W. H. L. Wallace (com¬ 
manding General Smith’s forces) held the left right; Hurlburt’s 
fine brigades formed the reserve; General Lew Wallace’s divi¬ 
sion was stationed at Crump’s Landing, forming the Federal 
extreme right wing. 

RECONNOISSANCES BY THE ENEMY. 

The skirmishes of Friday and Saturday (April 4th and 5th) 
with the enemy’s cavalry, served to keep Sherman’s men on 
the alert. On Friday the Federal pickets were driven in on 
the main line of the division, with a loss of one Lieutenant and 
seven men. Sherman ordered a charge, when the rebel cav¬ 
alry were, in turn, driven five miles, with a considerable loss. 
Saturday the well-mounted rebels again made a bold push at 
the lines, in considerable force, and retired after a warm recep¬ 
tion. All these advances were reconnoissances to test the 
Federal spirit and to locate his lines. 

THE FEDERALS NOT SURPRISED. 

On Sunday morning early, April 6th, the Federal advance 
pickets were again driven in on the main line. Sherman 
immediately ordered the entire division under arms. The 


POSITION OF THE UNION FORCES. 


13 


forces thus prepared awaited the enemy’s coming for some 
time. At seven o’clock, no further advance being made, Sher¬ 
man with his entire staff rode to the front, his forces composed 
and disposed as follows : 

1st Brigade—Composed of 6th Iowa, Col. J. A. McDowell ; 
40th Illinois, Col. Hicks; 46th Ohio, Col. Worthington; and 
the Morton Battery—on the extreme right, guarding the bridge 
on the Purdy road, over Owl creek. 

2d Brigade—Composed of 55th Illinois, Col. D. Stuart; 
54th Ohio, Col. T. Kilby Smith ; 71st Ohio, Col. Mason—on 
the extreme left, guarding the ford over Lick creek. 

3d Brigade—Composed of 77th Ohio, Col: Hildebrand ; 53d 
Ohio, Col. Appier ; 57th Ohio, Col. Munger—on the left of the 
Corinth road, its right resting on Shiloh Meeting House. 

4th Brigade—Composed of 72d Ohio, Col. Buckland ; 48th 
Ohio, Col. Sullivan; 70tli Ohio, Col. Cockerill; on the right 
of the Corinth road, its left resting on Shiloh Meeting House. 

Two batteries of Artillery—Taylor’s and Waterhouse’s— 
were posted, the former at Shiloh and the latter on a ridge to 
the left, with a front fire over open ground, between Hunger’s 
and Appier’s regiments. The cavalry and companies of the 
4th Illinois, under Colonel Dickey, were posted in a large 
open field to the left and rear of Shiloh Meeting House, which 
Sherman regarded as the center of his position. 

When the. General and his staff were in front of the 53d 
Ohio, in an open field, the enemy’s pickets opened fire on them, 
killing the General’s orderly. The fire came from a covert 
of bushes lining a small stream which flowed north, along 
Sherman’s whole front line. In the valley of this stream the 
enemy formed for his advance. Sherman witnessed his 
movements and became aware that the threatened conflict 
with the enemy in force was at hand. There w T as no “ surprise.” 
The division had been under arms ever since six o’clock, wait¬ 
ing the expected assault. Sherman, in his very clearly written 
report said: 

“ About eight a. m. I saw the glistening bayonets of heavy 
masses of infantry to our left front, in the woods beyond the 
small stream alluded to, and became satisfied for the first time 
that the enemy designed a determined attack on our whole 
camp. All the regiments of my division were then in line of 


14 


BATTLE OF PITTSBTJKG LANDING. 


battle at their proper posts. I rode to Colonel Appier and 
ordered him to hold his ground at all hazards, as he held the 
left flank of our first line of battle, and I informed him that, 
he had a good battery on his right and strong supports to his 
rear. General McClernand had promptly and energetically 
responded to my request, and had sent me three regiments, 
which were posted to protect Waterhouse’s battery and the 
left flank of my line.” 

This proves that there was no surprise whatever. McCler¬ 
nand had been informed as early as half past six of the enemy’s 
presence, and had placed his troops in order of battle. The 
same with Prentiss and Hurlbut—both of whom were ready 
long before the assault on Sherman’s front.* 

THE BATTLE. 

The struggle commenced by the enemy’s advance in force 
on Sherman’s center, and the simultaneous opening of a bat¬ 
tery in the woods, which shelled the Federal camp. Taylor 
and Waterhouse promptly responded. Under cover of their 
own battery, the rebel advance, by heavy battalions of infantry, 
was made obliquely to the left, across the open field in front 
of the 53d Ohio, while solid columns came in, direct, upon 
Sherman’s front. Immediately the entire line opened fire, and 
the battle became general. The enemy’s design was to left- 
flank Sherman. To this end he flung himself with terrific 
force upon Prentiss. Sherman says: “I saw at once that the 
enemy designed to pass my deft flank and fall upon Generals 
McClernand and Prentiss, whose line of camps was almost 
parallel with the Tennessee river, and about two miles back 
from it. Very soon the sound of musketry and artillery 
announced that Prentiss was engaged, and about nine a. m. 
I judged that he was falling back. About this time Appier’s 
regiment broke in disorder, followed by Munger’s regiment, 
and the enemy pressed forward on Waterhouse’s battery thereby 
exposed. The three Illinois regiments in immediate support 
of this battery stood for some time, but the enemy’s advance 

* This silences the calumny of the various newspaper correspondents, 
particularly those of the Cincinnati and Chicago press, whose reiterated 
assertions of a surprise—of the unprotected nature of our advance—of the 
refusal of Grant to allow reconnoitering—for a while did the commanding 
General great injury. Their correspondence, at least, needed a “ censor¬ 
ship.” 


THE ATTACK ON THE LEFT. 


15 


was so vigorous, and the fire so severe, that when Colonel 
Raitli, of the 43d Illinois, received a severe wound and 
fell from his horse, his regiment and the others manifested 
disorder, and the enemy got possession of three guns of this 
(Waterhouse’s) battery. Although our left was thus turned, 
and the enemy was pressing our whole line, I deemed Shiloh 
so important that I remained by it, and renewed my orders to 
Colonels McDowell and Buckland to hold their ground, and 
we did hold these positions until about ten o’clock a. m., when 
the enemy had got his artillery to the rear of our left flank, 
and some change became absolutely necessary. Two regiments 
of Hildebrand’s brigade—Appier’s and Munger’s—had already 
disappeared to the rear, and Hildebrand’s own regiment was 
in disorder. I therefore gave orders for Taylor’s battery—still 
at Shiloh—to fall back as far as the Purdy and Hamburg 
road; and for McDowell and Buckland to adopt that road as 
their new line. I rode across the angle and met Belir’s bat¬ 
tery at the. cross-roads, and ordered it immediately to come 
into battery action right. Captain Behr gave the order, but 
he was almost immediately shot from his horse, when drivers 
and gunners fled in disorder, carrying off the caissons, and 
abandoning five out of the six guns without firing a shot. 
The enemy pressed on after gaining this battery, and we were 
again forced to choose a line of defense. Hildebrand’s brigade 
had substantially disappeared from the field, though he him¬ 
self bravely remained. McDowell’s and Buckland’s brigades 
still maintained their organizations, and were conducted by 
my aids so as to join on McClernand’s right, thus abandoning 
my original camps and line.” 

General Hurlbut’s report comes in here to enlighten us on 
this moment of disaster. He says : “ About half past seven I 
received a message from Brigadier-General Sherman that he 
was attacked in force and heavily upon his left. I immediately 
ordered Colonel I. C. Yeatch, commanding the 2d brigade, to 
proceed to the left of General Sherman. This brigade, consist¬ 
ing of the 25th Indiana, 14th, 15th, and 46th Illinois, was in 
march in ten minutes, arrived on General Sherman’s left and 
went into action rapidly.” With what result is thus told by 
Major John W. Foster, of the 25th Indiana: “ In a few minutes 
we were in line of battle, and moving forward to the attack. 


16 


BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING. 


We had hardly left the camp before we saw the roads full of 
our flying men, and all along the route*for the two miles we 
passed over, were strewn guns, knapsacks and blankets, and 
we found, to our dismay, that our front had been completely 
surprised, one whole division scattered and retreating in utter 
confusion, and the enemy in force already a mile within our 
camps. We were drawn up in line of battle, our brigade, 
under command of Colonel Yeatch, in a skirt of timber bor¬ 
dering a large field, on the outer edge of which our troops 
were engaging the enemy. But the enemy pressed on in 
overwhelming force, and just as the troops in front of us 
began to waver, we discovered that the enemy had flanked us 
on the right and was rapidly advancing (in what force we knew 
not, but the woods were perfectly swarming) to attack our 
brigade on the right and rear.' So it became necessary for us 
to change our front to the rear to meet them. 

“ The loth Illinois was on the right, the 14th Illinois in the 
center, and the 25tli Indiana on the left—the other regiment, 
the 46th Illinois, by the rapid flanking of the enemy becoming 
detached from the brigade, was not with us again during the 
whole action. This brought the first fire upon the 15th Illi¬ 
nois, which stood it nobly, but was soon overpowered; like¬ 
wise the 14tli. In the mean time the troops in front and on 
the left were completely routed by the enemy, and came pell- 
mell right through our lines, causing some little confusion, and 
hardly had they passed through to the rear before the enemy 
were upon us, and here the fire of musketry was most terrible. 

“ Our men tried to stand up to it, but every thing was 
breaking to pieces all around us, and it was more than we 
could do, short of annihilation. We poured in a few well- 
directed volleys, and reluctantly left the field—many of our 
men firing as they fell back. The loss here was very heavy. 
All the field officers of the 25th Illinois were killed instantly, 
and many commissioned officers ; two of our Lieutenants were 
killed and three wounded, and one of our Captains is either 
killed or a prisoner.” 

It is hardly to be wondered that the raw regiments flinched 
under this appalling fire, before which veteran troops were 
powerless to stand without annihilation. Yet it must be said 
that Hildebrand’s brigade evidently had no stomach for the 


TELE ATTACK ON MC CLERNAND’s DIVISION. 


17 


figlit, since no command or entreaty of officers—no appeal to 
their patriotism or to their sense of shame—no taunt of coward¬ 
ice or tln^ats of disgrace could call them again into action.* 
They drifted through the lines of McGlernand and Hurlbut, 
and, for the rest of the day found safety and repose under the 
river’s bank, ready at any moment to seize the transports 
should danger threaten their lurking-place. 

Sherman, in his account, continued : “ This was about half 
past ten a.m., at which time the enemy had made a furious attack 
on General McClernand’s whole front. He struggled most de¬ 
terminedly, but finding him pressed, I moved McDowell’s bri¬ 
gade directly against the left flank of the enemy, forced him 
back some distance, and then directed the men to avail tliem- 
selv.es of every cover, trees, fallen timber, and a wooded valley 
to our right; we held this position for four long hours, some¬ 
times gaining and at others losing ground, General McClernand 
and myself acting in perfect concert and struggling to main¬ 
tain this line. While we were so hardly pressed, two Iowa 
regiments approached from the rear, but could not be brought 
up to the severe fire that was raging.” 

What this fire was the correspondent of the Cincinnati 
Times tells us : “ By eleven o’clock, quite a number of the com¬ 
manders of regiments had fallen, and in some cases not a sin¬ 
gle field officer remained; yet the fighting continued with an 
earnestness which plainly showed that the contest on both 
sides was for death or victory. The almost deafening sound 
of artillery, and the rattle of the musketry, were all that could 
be heard as the men stood and silently delivered their fire, 
evidently bent on the work of destruction with a fervor which 
knew no bounds. Foot by foot the ground was contested, a 

* Sherman said, in extenuation of their conduct: “My division was 
made up of regiments perfectly new, nearly all having received their mus¬ 
kets for the first time at Paducah. None of them hact been under fire, or 
beheld heavy columns of an enemy hearing down on them as they did on 
last Sunday. To expect of them the coolness and steadiness of older 
troops would he wrong. They knew not the value of combination and 
organization ; when individual fear seized them, the first impulse was to 
get away. 

“ My third brigade did break much too soon, and I am not yet advised 
where they were Sunday afternoon and Monday morning, Colonel Hilde¬ 
brand. its commander, was as cool as any man I ever saw, and no one 
could have made stronger efforts to hold his men to their place than he 
did. He kept his own regiment, with individual exceptions, in hand an 
hour after Appier’s and Munger’s regiments had left their proper field of 
action. Colonel Buckland managed his brigade well.” 


18 


BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING. 


single narrow strip of open land dividing the opponents. Not 
having had time, in their hasty departure from their camps, 
to bring forward the hand-stretcliers so necessary for the easy 
transportation of the wounded,- such available means as were 
at hand were adopted, and the soldier’s outstretched blanket 
received his crippled comrade, as the only available method 
by which he could be carried to the rear. Many who were 
maimed fell back without help, while others still fought in the 
ranks until they were actually forced back by their company 
officers. 

Hurlbut’s division, in reserve, saved the first repulse from 
proving an absolute defeat, by offering a line behind which 
the discomfited divisions of Sherman and Prentiss could 
re-form, while his solid ranks were a wall of fire against which 
the enemy could not prevail. The General, in his report, says 
of their five hours’ service ; 

“ Receiving from General Prentiss a pressing request for 
aid, I took command in person of the 1st and 3d brigades, 
respectively commanded by Colonel N. G. Williams, of the 
3d Iowa, and Brigadier-General Laumann. The 1st brigade 
consisted of the 3d Iowa, 41st Illinois, 28th Illinois and 32d 
Illinois. The 3d brigade was composed of the 31st and 44th 
Indiana, the 17th and 25tli Kentucky. 

“ In addition, I took with me the 1st and 2d battalions of 
the 5tli Ohio cavalry; Mann’s light battery of four pieces 
commanded by first Lieutenant E. Brotzmann; Ross’ battery 
of the 2d Michigan ; and Meyer’s battery of the 13tli Ohio.” 

The General then states these interesting particulars: “ As 
we drew near the rear and left of General Prentiss’ line, his 
regiments, in broken masses, drifted through my advance, that 
gallant officer making every effort to rally them. 

“ I formed my line of battle—the 1st brigade thrown to the 
front on the southerly side of a large open field—the 3d bri¬ 
gade continuing the line with an obtuse angle around the 
other side of the field, and extending some distance into the 
brush and timber. Mann’s battery was placed in the angle 
of the lines, Ross’ battery some distance to the left, and the 
13th Ohio battery on the right, and somewhat advanced in 
cover of the timber, so as to concentrate the fire upon the 
open ground in front, and waited for tlio attack. 


hurlbut’s DIVISION-. 


19 


“ A single shot from the enemy’s batteries struck in Meyer’s 
13th Ohio battery, when officers and men, with a common 
impulse of disgraceful cowardice, abandoned the entire battery 
—horses, caissons and guns—and fled, and I saw them no 
more until Tuesday. for volunteers from the artillery ; 

the call was answered, and ten gallant men from Mann’s bat¬ 
tery and Ross’ battery brought in the horses, which were 
wild, and spiked the guns.” 

The incident here related formed one of the most mortify¬ 
ing episodes of the battle* and, added to the cowardice of the 
77th and 53d Ohio, tarnished the honor of the State, in a 
degree; though the splendor of the service rendered by the 
rest of the Ohio men covered their State with glory. Ilurl- 
but continued his narrative : 

“The attack commenced on the 3d brigade through the 
thick timber, and was met and repelled by a steady and con¬ 
tinuous fire which rolled the enemy back in confusion after 
some half-hour of struggle, leaving many dead and wounded. 
The glimmer of bayonets on the left and front of the 1st bri¬ 
gade showed a large force of the enemy gathering, and an 
attack was soon made on the 41st Illinois and 28th, on the 
left of the brigade, and the 32d Illinois and 3d Iowa on the 
right. At the same time a strong force of very steady and 
gallant troops formed in columns, doubled on the center and 
advanced over the open field in front. They were allowed 
to approach within four hundred yards, when fire was opened 
from Mann’s and Ross’ batteries, and from the two right reg¬ 
iments of the 1st brigade, and 17th and 25th Kentucky, which 
were thrown forward slightly, so as to flank the column. 
Under this withering fire they vainly attempted to deploy, but 
soon broke and fell back under cover, leaving not less than 
150 dead and wounded as evidence how our troops maintained 
their position. The attack on the left was also repulsed, but as 
the ground was covered with brush, the loss could not be judged. 

“ General Prentiss having succeeded in rallying a consider¬ 
able portion of his command, I permitted him to pass to the 
front of the right of my 3d brigade, where they redeemed 
their honor by maintaining that line for some time while 

* The battery was mustered out of service, its men disgraced, and its 
officers branded with cowardice. 


20 


BATTLE OP PITTSBURG LANDING. 


ammunition, was supplied to my regiments. A series of 
attacks upon the right and left of my line were readily repelled 
until I was compelled to order Ross’ battery to the rear, on 
account of its loss in men and-horses. During all this time, 
Mann’s battery maintained its tip steadily, effectively, and 
with great rapidity, under the excellent handling of Lieuten¬ 
ant E. Brotzmann. 

“ For five hours these brigades maintained their position 
under repeated and heavy attacks, and endeavored with their 
thin ranks to hold the space between Stewart’s and McCler- 
nand’s, and did check every attempt to penetrate the lines.” 

The fight at this point—the left wing—raged with unabated 
fury. The Times correspondent wrote: 

“ With the first demonstration of the enemy upon the left 
wing, it was to be seen that all the fury was being poured out 
upon it with the determination that it should give way. For 
nearly two hours a sheet of fire blazed from both columns, 
and I could liken the explosion of the small-arms to nothing 
save a cane-brake in a state of conflagration. The Mississippi 
riflemen, a large and well-organized body of good marksmen 
and desperate men, fought with a valor that was only equaled 
by those who received their unerring fire, and returned it 
with an energy which assured them that many of those who had 
endured the fire of Donelson were in the ranks before them. 

“ In this quarter it seemed, for the period of nearly an hour, 
that the enemy would succeed in driving our forces. Three 
different times they drove our men slowly before them, until 
they came in sight of the river, and were plainly visible even 
to those on the main landing below. Up to three o’clock, it 
will be remembered, the battle had raged with a fury which 
defies description. At every point the rebels had found 
every attempt to break our lines unavailing. They had 
striven to drive in our main column, and finding that impos¬ 
sible, had turned all their strength upon our left wing. 
Foiled in that quarter, they now made another attack on the 
center, and fought like tigers. They found our lines well 
prepared for and in full expectation of their coming; every 
man to his post, and all waiting to bring the contest to a 
definite conclusion. 

“ In hourly expectation of the arrival of the forces under 


EFFICIENT AID OF THE GUNBOATS. 


21 


Generals Nelson and Thomas, who were at Savannah, and to 
whom messages had been sent, a fact as well known to the 
secessionists as ourselves, they made every effort to rout our 
forces before these reinforcements should have come forward. 
They were, however, fighting against a wall of fire and steel, 
manned by as brave hearts as ever smelled the essence of 
gunpowder. Volley answered to volley, and for a time the 
battle of the morning was reenacted over the same ground, 
and with the same vigor on both sides. 

“ At five o’clock there was a short cessation in the firing 
of the enemy, their lines falling back on the center for the 
distance, perhaps, of nearly a mile. They then suddenly 
wheeled and again threw their entire force upon the left wing, 
determined to make the final struggle of the day in that 
quarter. The gunboat Lexington , in the mean time, had arrived 
from Savannah, and, after sending a messenger to General 
Grant to ascertain the direction in which the enemy lay from 
the river, .the two boats took position about half a mile above 
the landing, and poured their shell up a deep ravine reaching 
to the river on their right. The shots were thick and fast, 
and told with a thrilling effect. 

“ In the mean time. General Wallace had taken a circuitous 
route from Crump’s Landing, and appeared suddenly on the 
right wing of the enemy. In face of this combination of 
circumstances, the rebels felt that their enterprise was for the 
day a failure, and, as night was about at hand, they slowly 
fell back, fighting as they went, until they reached an advan¬ 
tageous position, somewhat in the rear, and yet occupying the 
main road to Corinth. The gunboats continued to send their 
shell after them until they had entirely got beyond their 
reach. Thus ends an outline of the battle of the first day.” 

The last paragraph contains an error. General Wallace 
arrived from Crump’s Landing not until after nightfall, and 
his division took no part in the first day’s action. It was the 
division of General W. H. L. Wallace, under command of 
Colonel Tuttle, which held the enemy at bay in their last 
effort to break our lines. Colonel Tuttle, in his report to 
Brigadier-General McArthur, (General Wallace being mortally 
wounded, the command devolved upon General McArthur ; he 
being also wounded, Colonel Tuttle, as senior in rank, took 
the division command,) said: 


22 


BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING. 


“ On the morning of the 6th, I proceeded with my brigade, 
consisting of the 2d, 7th, 12th and 14th Iowa infantry, under 
the direction of Brigadier-General W. H. L. Wallace, and 
formed line on the left of his division. We had been in line 
but a few moments, when the enemy made their appearance 
and attacked my left wing, (12th and 13tli Iowa,) who gallantly 
stood their ground, and compelled the assailants to retire in 
confusion. They again formed under cover of a battery, and 
renewed the attack upon my whole line, but were repulsed as 
before. 

“ A third and fourth time they dashed upon us, but 
were each time baffled and completely routed. We held our 
position about six hours, when it became evident that our 
forces on each side Of us had given way, so as to give the 
enemy an opportunity of turning both our flanks. At this 
critical juncture, General Wallace gave orders for my whole 
brigade to fall back, which was done in good order. The 2d 
and 7th regiments retired through a severe fire from both 
flanks, and re-formed, while the 12th and 14th, who were 
delayed by their endeavors to save a battery which had been 
placed in their rear, were completely cut off and surrounded, 
and were compelled to surrender. 

“ In passing through the cross-fire, General Wallace fell 
mortally wounded, and, as you were reported wounded, and 
Captain McMichael informing me that I was the ranking 
officer, I assumed command of the division, and rallied what 
was left of my brigade, and was joined by the 13tli Iowa, 
Colonel Crooker, 9th Illinois, Colonel Mersy, 12tli Illinois, 
Lieutenant-Colonel Cliottain, and several other fragments of 
regiments, and formed in line on the road, and held the enemy 
in check until the line was formed that resisted the last 
charge just before dark of that day.” 

The new line formed to resist the last charge comprised 
General Buell’s forces of eight thousand, led by Buell and 
General Nelson. This opportune arrival, by a forced march, 
within sound of the guns, brought them to the scene of action 
at that critical moment when the fate of the conflict hung in 
the balance. The men, though weary from their long march, 
formed behind the still unfaltering divisions of Sherman, 
McClernand, Hurlbut and W. H. L. Wallace—the latter, as 


REPORT OF GENERAL HURLBUT. 


23 


recorded, being led by Colonel Tuttle. Htfrlbut’s forces had, 
in common with the entire left wing, been pressed to the 
river line. His lucid report of the afternoon’s work of his 
regiments and artillery, and of the disposition made for the 
last stand, we give : 

“ When, about three o’clock, Colonel Stewart, on my left, sent 
me word that he was driven in, and that I would be flanked 
on the left in a few moments, it was necessary for me to decide 
at once to abandon either the right or left. I considered that 
General Prentiss could, with the left of General McClernand’s 
troops, probably hold the right, and sent him notice* to reach 
out toward the right, and drop back steadily parallel with my 
1st brigade, while I rapidly moved General Lanmann from the 
right to tlier left, and called up two 20-pounder pieces of Major 
Cavender’s battalion to check the advance of the enemy upon 
the 1st brigade. These pieces were taken into action by Dr. 
Corvine, the surgeon of the battalion, and Lieutenant Edwards, 
and effectually checked the enemy for half an hour, giving me 
time to draw off my crippled artillery, and to form a new 
front with the 3d brigade. In a few minutes, two Texan regi¬ 
ments crossed the ridge separating my line from Stewart’s 
former one, while other troops also advanced. 

“ Willard’s battery was thrown into position, under com¬ 
mand of Lieutenant Wood, and opened with great effect on 
the Lone Star flags, until their line of fire was obstructed by 
the charge of the 3d brigade, which, after delivering its fire 
w 7 ith great steadiness, charged full up the hill, and drove the 
enemy three or four hundred yards. Perceiving that a heavy 
force was closing on the left, between my line and the river, 
while heavy fire continued on the right and front, I ordered 
the line to fall back. The retreat was made quietly and 
steadily, and in good order. I had hoped to make a stand 
on the line of my camp, but masses of the enemy were press¬ 
ing rapidly on each flank, while their light artillery was closing 
rapidly in the rear. On reaching the 24-pounder siege guns 
in battery, near the river, I again succeeded in forming line 
of battle in rear of the guns, and, by direction of Major- 
General Grant, I assumed command of all troops that came 

* Jlurlbut was not then aware that Prentiss and many men from four 
of his regiments were prisoners, at that moment, in the enemy’s hands. 


24 BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING. 

up. Broken regiments and disordered battalions came- into 
line gradually upon my division. 

“ Major Cavender posted six of liis 20-pound pieces on my 
right, and I sent my aid to establish the light artillery, all that 
could be found, on my left. Many officers and men unknown 
to me, and whom I never desire to know, fled in confusion 
through the line. Many gallant soldiers and brave officers 
rallied steadily on the new line. I passed to the right and 
found myself in communication with General Sherman, and 
received his instructions. In a short time the enemy appeared 
on the crest of the ridge, led by the 13th Louisiana, but were 
cut to pieces by the steady and murderous fire of the artillery. 
Dr. Corvine again took charge of one of the heavy 24-pounders, 
and the line of fire of that gun was the one upon which the 
other pieces concentrated. General Sherman’s artillery also 
was rapidly engaged, and, after an artillery contest of some 
duration, the enemy fell back. 

“ Captain Gwinn, U. S. 1ST., had called upon me by one of 
his officers, to mark the place the gunboats might take to open 
their fire. I advised him to take position on the left of my 
camp-ground, and open fire as soon as our fire was within that 
line. He did so, and from my own observation and the state¬ 
ment of prisoners, his fire was most effectual in stopping the 
advance of the enemy on Sunday afternoon and night.” 

The gunboats Tyler , Lieutenant Wm. Gwinn commanding, 
and Lexington, Lieutenant James W. Shirk commanding, per¬ 
formed signal service. At fifty minutes past two, the Tyler 
opened fire, as directed by General Hurlbut, doing the enemy 
immense harm, and striking terror into his ranks. The great 
bombs careered through the air in quick succession, hurtling 
death and destruction throughout all those oak-jungles under 
whose cover the enemy fought so securely. The Lexington 
came up at four p. m., when the two boats took a position 
about three-fourths of a mile above Pittsburg Landing, where 
the enemy’s right could be reached. The bombardment 
silenced the Confederate batteries in less than thirty minutes. 
Lieutenant Gwinn, in his report to Commodore Foote, (the 
boats belonging to Foote’s flotilla,) said: 

“ At thirty-five minutes past five, the rebels having succeeded 
in gaining a position on the left of our line—an eighth of a mile 


THE DAY SAVED BY THE GUNBOATS. 


25 


above the landing at Pittsburg, and a half-mile from the river— 
both vessels opened a heavy and well-directed fire on them, and 
in a short time, in conjunction with our artillery on shore, suc¬ 
ceeded in silencing their artillery, and driving them back in 
confusion. 

“ At six p. m., the Tyler opened deliberate fire in direction 
of the rebel right wing, throwing five and ten-inch shell. 
At twenty-five minutes past six, ceased firing. At nine p. m., 
the Tyler again opened fire, by direction of General Nelson, 
who greatly distinguished himself in yesterday’s engagement, 
throwing five, ten and fifteen-incli shell, and an occasional 
shrapnell from the howitzer, at intervals of ten minutes, in 
direction of the rebel right wing, until one a. m., when the 
Lexington relieved us, and continued the fire at intervals of 
fifteen minutes, until five a. m., when, our land forces having 
attacked the enemy, forcing them gradually back, it became 
dangerous for the gunboats to fire.” 

Had the gunboats been less available—had our artillery 
been less efficiently- served—had Buell’s coming been delayed 
one hour—the day would, indeed, have been one of sad 
disaster to the Union cause. Beauregard’s promise of victory 
would have been redeemed, and Johnston’s promise to defeat 
Buell and regain Nashville might have had an early fulfillment. 

How nearly we came to such a disaster few care to con¬ 
template. The reader will infer from Hurlbut’s report that 
the field was really lost. If any one be disposed to doubt it, 
the testimony of acting witnesses is not wanting to prove the 
impending reverse on the evening of the bloody day. 

McClernand’s fine division comprised the right of the 
advance divisions. It came into action after the Confederate 
onslaught had driven in the regiments of Prentiss, after 
having engaged Sherman’s entire line. McClernand led in 
person, and kept his men in excellent order even where the 
enemy had pressed him back. Beauregard commanded the 
section of the rebel army pitted against McClernand, and 
maneuvered his men with masterly skill—as, indeed, did all 
the rebel Generals during the entire two days’ conflict.* 

* One who was present wrote“ The generalship on the part of the 
Confederates was consummate—far exceeding ours, and deserving, from 
a military point of view, the highest admiration. The most unexpected 
movements were made. When we attacked a certain point we met with 


26 


BATTLE OP PITTSBURG LANDING. 


McClernand plotted and counterplotted with shrewdness and 
discretion, and maintained, or retired from, his positions with 
great deliberation. His charges are represented as haying 
been brilliant, and twice gave a shock to the advancing hosts 
which drove them back and gave the Union army new 
courage. For nearly six hours his regiments stood up to the 
work. Then it became apparent that the enemy had been 
reinforced and was rapidly turning his (McClernand’s) right, 
at the same time that the entire lines "were being pushed 
backward by the outnumbering Confederates. The Illinois 
General asked aid from Hurlbut’s division. Colonel Yeatch, 
with the remnant of the 2d brigade, passed over to McCler¬ 
nand’s lines, taking position on his left. The 14tli Illinois 
pushed forward to flank the foe, while the 25th Indiana, 
Major Foster commanding, pressed up close, as a support. 
Major Foster wrote:—“The 14th Illinois flanked them, and 
was just beginning to pour upon them a heavy fire, while we 
were moving up to the assistance of the 14th in fine style, 
when the whole mass of our left, which had for five or six 
hours been steadily and stubbornly contesting the victorious 
advance of the enemy in that direction, gave way in all 
directions, about half-past three, and came sweeping by us in 
utter and total confusion—cavalry, ambulances, artillery, and 
thousands of infantry, all in one mass, while the enemy were 
following closely in pursuit, at the same time throwing grape, 
canister and shells thick and fast among them. It was a time 
of great excitement and dismay—it appeared that all was 
lost; but I was unwilling to throw our regiment into the 
flying mass, only to be trampled to pieces and thoroughly 
disorganized and broken. So I held them back in the wash 
on the side of the road until the mass of the rout had passed, 
when I put my men in the rear of the retreat. This rout 
decided that day’s work. We were driven back nearly to 
the river landing, but still the ground was strongly defended 
all the time, but the enemy kept pressing us in all the time, 
and if, at this time, they had made a bold and united charge 
all along their line, we would have been totally and utterly 

resistance from a new quarter; when we moved to the right we were 
attacked on our left; when we advanced to the center a deadly lire was 
opened on us from the right; and so we were constantly deceived by the 
skill and strategy of our foes.” 


LOSS OF THE UNION CAMPS. 


27 


routed ; but a half-hour’s apparent cessation of heavy firing 
gave our scattered forces time to rally,'while the first two 
regiments of Buell’s long-expected advance took position on 
the hill in the rear, and our forces fell back and formed with 
them near the landing for a final stand.” 

Of that last desperate struggle near the river’s bank the 
Major wrote: “ About five o’clock in the evening the enemy 
made a heavy charge and attempted to carry this position. 
The contest was most terrible—the roar of musketry was one 
continual peal for nearly half an hour. All that saved us, 
was two heavy siege pieces on the hill and the firmness of our 
men on this last stand. Night closed in on us, with almost 
the whole of our extensive camps in the hands of the enemy.” 

Sherman states, in his report: “We fell back as w 7 ell as we 
could, gathering in addition to our own, such scattered forces 
as we could find, and formed the line. During this change 
the enemy’s cavalry charged us, but were handsomely repulsed 
by an Illinois regiment, whose number I did not learn at that 
time or since. The 5th Ohio cavalry, which had come up, 
rendered good service in holding the enemy in check for some 
time, and Major Taylor also came, up with a new battery, and 
got into position to get a good flank fire upon the enemy’s 
column as he pressed on General McClernand’s right, checking 
his advance; when General McClernand’s division made a 
fine charge on the enemy, and drove him back into the ravines 
to our front and right. I had a clear field about two hundred 
yards wide in my immediate front, and contented myself with 
keeping the enemy’s infantry at that distance during the rest 
of the day. In this position we rested for the night.” 

No wonder Beauregard telegraphed a victory, and that the 
Confederates throughout the South,' where a telegraph could 
speed them the news, should have rejoiced. To have given 
Buell’s and Grant’s advance a staggering blow—to spend the 
night in their tents, feasting, as Davis’ unpaid patriots had not 
done for months, upon good rations and officers’ luxuries, w^as 
indeed a victory for them, even if the morrow should send 
them hurtling back, a confused and broken mass to their 
intrencliments at Corinth.* 

* The Memphis Appeal charges the defeat of the Confederates on Mon* 
day to the liquor found by their men in the Federal tents I 


28 


BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING. 


Thus closed one of the bloodiest of all the battles for the 
Union. It was, indeed, one of the most severely contested 
fields of modern times. The Union forces engaged—after 
counting out the six regiments whose cowardice or want of 
experience rendered them a source of annoyance — was 
about thirty-eight thousand. The addition of Buell’s first 
reinforcement only served to keep that number good, since 
the dead, wounded and prisoners amounted fully to five thou¬ 
sand, while three thousand were out of the ranks either from 
exhaustion or on hospital duty. The enemy were reported 
to have had at the close of the day, for their last struggle, 
about forty-five thousand on the field, led in person by John¬ 
ston, Beauregard, Bragg, Hardee, Polk, Breckenridge and 
Cheaham. The troops comprised the very choicest of the 
u chivalry ”—Mississippi “ Tigers,” Louisiana “ Zouaves,” Pen¬ 
sacola “ Invincibles,” Alabama “ Avalanches,” Georgia “ Gla¬ 
diators,” consorting with Arkansas cut-throats and Texas des¬ 
peradoes, to make up an army of the best fighting material 
which it is possible for the South to produce. Had they been 
opposed by men less skilled in arms and less confident in their 
own resources, the day would have been decided before noon. 
But, in the Northern regiments the Southerners met with 
more than their match. In endurance, cool courage and skill, 
the troops which stood the tremendous shocks of the foe were 
all that any field of battle ever witnessed. 

Out of that awful contest this picture was drawn by one 
who rode over the field as an observer: 

“ Each man fought as if success or defeat depended on his 
own right arm; and charge after charge was made upon the 
rebels to regain the ground we had lost. They stood firm as 
a rock ; and though our artillery often swept down their ranks 
and left fearful gaps in their columns, they manifested no 
trepidation, nor did they waver for a moment; The living 
supplied the place of the dead. The musket that had fallen 
from a lifeless hand was seized at once, and the horrid strife 
swept on as before. The force of the enemy appeared increas¬ 
ing, and where the greatest havoc was made, there the strong¬ 
est opposition* was shown. Hand-to-hand contests were 
innumerable. Every struggle was for life. Quarter was asked 
on neither side, and the ground drank up the blood of 


GENERAL BUELL’S ARRIVAL. 


29 


hundreds of brave fellows every hour. Men lost their semblance 
of humanity, and the spirit of the demon shone in their faces. 
There was but one desire, and that was to destroy. There 
was little shouting. The warriors were too much in earnest. 
They set their teeth firm and strained their every nerve to its 
utmost tension. Death lost all its terrors, and men seemed to 
feast upon the sight of blood.” 

Of such ghastly features is the “ grim front of war,” only 
the reality is more painful, more horrible than words can 
express. Men to contemplate it with serenity must be demons 
indeed, or else they must be mastered by emotions higher and 
nobler than love of life or self—the love of a cause__wliich 
Heaven consecrates. 


SECOND DAY’S CONFLICT. 

Buell arrived at Savannah on the evening of the 5th—where 
General Nelson’s division also arrived the same day. The 
remaining divisions were coming on at intervals of six miles 
apart. The firing on the morning of the 6th was distinctly 
heard at Savannah. Sending order for the divisions to hasten 
up without their trains, Buell ordered Nelson to move down 
the left bank of the Tennessee to the Pittsburg Landing ferry, 
while he himself took steamer for the scene of hostilities. 

Buell mentions, in his report, the fact of the disasters of the 
first day—stating that the crowd of demoralized men increased 
as he proceeded up the stream. He computed the mass at 
between four and five thousand men at the time of his arrival 
early in the day. Buell said : 

“ Late in the day it became much greater. Finding Gen¬ 
eral Grant at the Landing, I requested him to send steamers 
to Savannah to bring up General Crittenden’s division, which 
had arrived during the morning, and then went ashore with him. 
The throng of disorganized and demoralized troops increased 
continually by fresh fugitives from the battle which steadily 
drew nearer the Landing, and with these were intermingled 
great numbers of teams, all striving to get as near as possible 
to the river. With few exceptions, all efforts to form the 
troops and move them forward to the fight utterly failed. In 



30 


BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING. 


the mean time the enemy had made such progress against our 
troops that his artillery and musketry began to play into the 
vital spot of the position, and some persons were killed on the 
bank at the very Landing. General Nelson arrived with 
Colonel Ammen’s brigade at this opportune moment. It was 
immediately posted to meet the attack at that point, and with 
a battery of artillery, which happened to be on the ground 
and was brought into action, opened fire on the enemy and 
repulsed him. The action of the gunboats also contributed 
very much to that result. The attack at that point was not 
renewed. Night having come on, the firing ceased on both 
sides.”* 

This was the only part taken by Buell’s troops in the first 
day’s struggle. The opportune arrival of Nelson’s veterans 
turned the tide, and from that moment the disheartened and 
almost exhausted brigades of General Grant’s army took new 
courage. 

The remainder of Nelson’s division came up and crossed 
the ferry early in the evening. Crittenden’s division came on 
by steamers from Savannah. The batteries of Captains Men¬ 
denhall and Terrell, of the regular service, and Bartlett’s Ohio 
battery, also came up. McCook’s division, by a forced march, 
arrived at Savannah during the night of the 6th, and pushing 
on immediately, reached the Landing early on the morning of 
the 7th. 

Buell’s divisions, taking the Federal left wing, opened the 
day’s work, soon after five o’clock, when Nelson’s division 
moved forward upon the enemy’s pickets, driving them in. 
The rebel artillery opened at six o’clock on Nelson’s lines. 

Grant gave the right Federal wing to General Lew Wal¬ 
lace’s fine division of fresh men. Sherman’s broken brigades 
again assumed the field, taking position next to Wallace. On 
the right the attack commenced early after daybreak, by 
Thompson’s artillery, which opened on a rebel battery occupy¬ 
ing a bluff to the front and right of Wallace’s 1st brigade. 

* Nelson, in his report stated, in regard to this demoralized crowd at 
the river’s bank : “ I fonnd, cowering under the river-bank, when I crossed, 
from 7,000 to 10,000 men, frantic with fright, and utterly demoralized, who 
received my gallant division with cries that 11 We are whipped,” “ Cut to 
pieces,” etc. They were insensible to shame and sarcasm, for I tried both 
on them, and, indignant at such poltroonry, I asked permission to open 
fire upon the knaves.” 


GENEItAL SIIETIMAN’S COMMAND. 


31 


Behind that battery the enemy’s infantry was gathered in 
strong force, evidently with the view of falling upon the Fed¬ 
eral right, and by commanding the intervening hollow prevent 
Wallace’s advance. Thurber’s battery was immediately so 
posted that, with Thompson’s guns, the enemy was under a 
cross-fire. The enemy was driven from his position, and fell 
back beyond the brow of the blutf. Wallace then advanced 
at a right angle with the river. Expecting cooperation from 
Sherman, he halted his forces to await the appearance of that 
commander’s division. 

Sherman had received orders from Grant to advance and 
recapture his camps. # His division was now composed of 
odds and ends. Of it, as it came out of the conflict Sunday 
evening, he said: 

“ My command had become decidedly of a mixed character. 
Buckland’s brigade was the only one that retained its organi¬ 
zation. Colonel Hildebrand was personally there, but his 
brigade was not. Colonel McDowell had been severely 
injured by a fall of his horse, and had gone to the river, and 
the regiments of his brigade were not in line. The 13th Mis¬ 
souri, Colonel Crafts J. Wright, had reported to me on the 
field, and fought well, retaining its regimental organization, 
and it formed a part of my line during Sunday night and all 
Monday. Other fragments of regiments and companies had 
also fallen into my division, and acted with it during the 
remainder of the battle.” 

Certainly not a very promising host with which to “ advance 
and recapture his camps.” But, with such a commander as 
Sherman, the “I’ll try” of the notable Miller is “I’ll do it!” 
Receiving the orders as stated, he says : “ I dispatched several 
of my staff to bring up all the men they could find, and 
especially the brigade of Colonel Stuart, (which had been sep¬ 
arated from the division,) or, rather, what remained of it. 
With the 13th Missouri and other fragments, we moved for¬ 
ward and reoccupied the ground on the extreme right of Gen¬ 
eral McClernand’s camp, where we attracted the fire of a bat¬ 
tery located near Colonel McDowell’s head-quarters. Here I 
remained, patiently awaiting the sound of General Buell’s 
advance upon the main Corinth road.” It was this indepen¬ 
dent action of Sherman which caused Wallace to halt—he, 


82 


BATTLE OP PITTSBURG LANDING. 


evidently, not understanding Sherman’s design. Sherman did 
not long await the sound of ' Buell’s cannon. He says: 
“ About ten a. m. the heavy firing in this direction and its 
steady approach satisfied, me, and leaving General Wallace to 
hold our right flank with his well-conducted division, I led 
the head of my column to General McClernand’s right, formed 
line of battle facing south, with Buckland’s brigade on its 
right in the woods, and thus advanced steadily and slowly 
under a heavy fire of musketry and artillery. Taylor had 
just got to me from the rear, where he had gone for ammuni¬ 
tion, and brought up three guns, which I ordered into posi¬ 
tion to advance by hand firing.” 

Observing that his right was protected by the impassable 
swamp formed.by Snake creek, and that the enemy’s left was 
exposed, Wallace determined to press it, if possible turn it. 
For that purpose, he stated in his report, “ It became neces¬ 
sary for me to change front by a left half wheel of the whole 
division. While the movement was in progress, across a road 
through the woods at the southern end of the field we were 
resting by, I discovered a heavy column of rebels going rap¬ 
idly to reinforce their left, which was still retiring, covered 
by skirmishers, with whom mine were engaged. Thompson’s 
battery was ordered up and shelled the passing column with 
excellent effect, but while so engaged he was opened on by a 
full battery planted in the field just beyond the strip of woods 
on the right. He promptly turned his guns at the new enemy. 
A fine artillery duel ensued, very honorable to Thompson and 
his company. His ammunition giving out in the midst of it, 
I ordered him to retire, and Lieutenant Thurber to take his 
place. Thurber obeyed with such alacrity, that there was 
scarcely an intermission in the fire, which continued so long, 
and with such warmth as to provoke the attempt on thq 
part of the rebels to charge the position. Discovering the 
intention, the 1st brigade was brought across the field to occupy 
the strip of woods in front of Thurber. The cavalry made 
the first dash at the battery, but the skirmishers of. the 9tli 
Missouri poured an unexpected fire into them, and they retired 
pell-mell. Next the infantry attempted a charge; the 1st 
brigade easily repelled them. All this time my whole divi¬ 
sion was under a furious cannonade, but being well masked 


SPLENDID SUCCESS OF THE UNION EIGHT WING. S3 

behind the bluff, or resting in the hollows of the woods,, the 
regiments suffered but little.” 

This Affair only stayed the advance for a brief period. The 
cleared field in front was intersected by a willow-fringed 
stream. Over this the 1st and 2d brigades now pressed. The 
skirmishers in action all the way cleared the rise, and grouped 
themselves behind the ground-swells within seventy-five yards 
of the rebel lines. As the regiments approached them, sud¬ 
denly a sheet of musketry blazed from the woods, and a 
battery opened upon them. About the same instant, the regi¬ 
ments supporting his left fell hastily back. To save his flank 
a halt was ordered. The wavering battalions soon recovered, 
when the two brigades pressed on with fixed bayonets. The 
rebels fell back into the woods, thus abandoning their first 
positions, which the Federals now held. 

Fortune, however, wavered for a moment on the left of 
Wallace’s well won position. Sherman advanced, undercover 
of the three guns of the Chicago Light Artillery (Company A, 
Lieutenant P. P. Wood commanding), until the line of Mc- 
Clernand’s old camp was gained, on the Corinth road. There 
he first met Buell’s column of veterans—such troops as only a 
military commander of the truest instincts can produce. 
Their steadiness and precision inspired the new recruits of 
Sherman’s brigades with great confidence and enthusiasm. 
Willicli’s famous regiment advanced upon the enemy lurking, 
in heavy force, in a thicket of water-oaks. The reception by 
the enemy compelled even the invincible Indiana S2d to retire 
before it. The fire of musketry was perfectly astounding, and 
Colonel Willick came from the wood with sadly riddled ranks. 
It was evident that there was to be the great struggle of the 
day. Into the thicket, to support Buell’s forces, Sherman 
now led his men. He says: “ The enemy had one battery 
close to Shiloh, and another near the Hamburg road, both 
pouring grape and canister upon my column of troops that 
advanced upon the green point-of water oaks. Willich’s reg¬ 
iment had been repulsed, but a whole brigade of McCook’s 
division advanced beautifully, deployed and entered this 
dreaded wood. I ordered my 2d brigade, then commanded 
by Colonel T. Kilby Smith, (Colonel Stuart being wounded,) 
to form on its right, and my 4th brigade, Colonel Buckland, 


34 


BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING. 


on its left, all to advance abreast with the Kentucky brigade 
before mentioned, which I afterward found to be Rosseau’s 
brigade of McCook’s division. I gave personal direction to 
the 24-pounder guns, whose well-directed fire first silenced 
the enemy’s guns to the left, and afterward at the Shiloh 
Meeting House. Rosseau’s brigade moved in splendid order 
steadily to the front, sweeping every thing before it, and at 
four p. m. stood upon the ground of our original front line, 
and the enemy w r as in full retreat. I directed my several 
brigades to resume at once their original camps.” 

This is telling the story of a desperate service modestly 
but w T ell. Rosseau’s report shows the fighting in and beyond 
the wood to have been of the most desperate character. 
Sherman gives the credit of success to McCook’s division in 
these words“ I consider that General McCook’s splendid 
division from Kentucky drove back the enemy along the 
Corinth road, which was the great center of this field of 
battle, where Beauregard commanded in person, supported 
by Bragg’s, Polk’s and Breckenridge’s divisions.” 

McCook’s division w T as composed as follows: 

1st Brigade—Brigadier-General Lovell H. Rosseau: 1st 
Ohio, Colonel Ed. A. Parrott; 6th Indiana, Colonel Crittenden; 
3d Kentucky, (Louisville Legion;) battalions 15th, 16th and 
19th regulars. 

2d Brigade—Brigadier-General Johnston (Colonel W. H. 
Gibson commanded this brigade on the 7th): 32d Indiana, 
Colonel Willich; 39th Indiana, Colonel Harrison ; 49th Ohio, 
Colonel Gibson. 

3d Brigade—Colonel Kirk, 34tli Illinois, commanding: 34th 
Illinois, Lieutenant-Colonel Badsworth; 29th Indiana, Lieu¬ 
tenant-Colonel Drum; 30th Indiana, Colonel Bass; 77th 
Pennsylvania, Colonel Stambaugh. 

The center, under McClernand, in the mean -while, had an 
obstinate and unyielding foe in its front. Thoroughly des¬ 
perate at the chances of defeat, the rebels pressed upon the 
center, hoping to break it and thus to compel the wings to 
fall back again upon their rivei line. Hurlbut’s brigade 
moved up to his support, taking his extreme left, where the 
fight raged with great fury, and where the fortunes of the day 
were only sustained by the unflinching tenacity of the Union 


THE FIGHT ON THE CENTER AND LEFT. 


35 


troops. It was a conflict where the last man would fall rather 
than retreat. One of the newspaper correspondents who was 
present on this section of the field wrote “ It now became 
evident that'the rebels were avoiding the extreme of the left 
wing, and endeavoring to find some weak point in the lines 
by which to turn our force, and thus create an irrevocable 
confusion. It ia wonderful with what perseverance and 
determination they adhered to this purpose. They left one 
point but to return to it immediately, and then as suddenly 
would, by some masterly stroke of generalship, direct a most 
vigorous assault upon some division where they fancied they 
would not be expected. The fire of our lines was steady as 
clock-work, and it soon became evident that the enemy almost 
considered the task they had undertaken a hopeless one. 
Notwithstanding the continued rebuff of the rebels wherever 
they had made their assaults, up to two o’clock they had 
given no evidence of retiring from the field. Their firing had 
been as rapid and vigorous at times as during the most terrible 
hours of the previous day, yet not so well confined to one 
point of attack.” 

Hurlbut’s forces, 2d and 3d brigades, were also doing great 
service in another part of the field, on the left, where, by 
their undaunted bravery, they contributed to the complete 
success of the day. Hurlbut, in his report, thus chronicled 
the doings of his brigades :—“ The 2d brigade led the charge 
ordered by General Grant until recalled by Major-General 
Buell. The 3d brigade was deeply and fiercely engaged on 
the right of General McClernand, successfully stopping a 
movement to flank his right, and holding their ground until 
the firing ceased. About one o’clock of that day, (Monday,) 
General McCook having closed up with General McClernand, 
and the enemy demonstrating in great force on the left, I went, 
by the request of General McClernand, to the rear of his line 
to bring up fresh troops, and was engaged in pressing them 
forward until the steady advance of General Buell on the 
extreme left, the firmness of the center, and the closing in 
from the right of Generals Sherman and Wallace determined 
the success of the day, when I called in my exhausted brigades, 
and led them to their camps. The ground was such on 
Sunday that I was unable to use cavalry. Colonel Taylor’s 


86 


BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING. 


5tli Ohio cavalry was drawn up in order of battle until near 
one o’clock, in the hope that some opening might offer for the 
use of this arm. None appearing, I ordered the command 
withdrawn from the reach of shot.” 

We left Wallace at halt, after having forced the enemy 
back on the extreme Federal right. Then he determined to 
push his column obliquely forward to the center. Seeing 
this, the watchful foe threw his cavalry on to the temporarily 
exposed right flank; but the 23d Indiana and one company 
of the 1st Nebraska regiment threw the squadron into con¬ 
fusion by their cutting fire. Wallace said:—“ Scarcely had 
my front movement commenced, when the supports on the 
left gave way, closely followed by masses of the enemy. My 
position at this time became critical, as isolation from the rest 
of the army seemed imminent. The reserves were resorted 
to. Colonel Woods, with his regiment, was ordered into line on 
the left. The remnant of a Michigan regiment, sent me by 
General McClernand, was dispatched to the left of Woods’. 
Thurber galloped up, and was posted to cover a retreat, 
should such a misfortune become necessary. Before the 
dispositions could be effected, the lltli Indiana, already 
engaged with superior numbers in its front, was attacked on 
its left flank; but backward wheeling three companies of 
his endangered wing, Colonel McGinnis gallantly held his 
ground. Fortunately, before the enemy could avail themselves 
of their advantage by the necessary change of front, some 
fresh troops dashed against them, and once more drove them 
back. For this favor my acknowledgments are especially 
due Colonel August Willich and his famous regiment.” 

The gallant General chronicled the closing scenes of the 
afternoon in the following fine strain:— 

“Pending this struggle, Colonel Thayer pushed on his 
command and entered the woods, assaulting the rebels 
simultaneously with Colonel Smith. Here the 58th Ohio and 
23d Indiana proved themselves fit comrades in battle with 
the noble 1st Nebraska. Here, also, the 76th Ohio won a 
brilliant fame. The 1st Nebraska fired away its last cartridge 
in the heat of the action. At a word, the 76th Ohio rushed 
in and took its place. Off to the right, meanwhile, arose the 
music of the 20th and 78th Ohio, fighting gallantly in support 


GENERAL BUELL’S REPORT. 


37 


of Thurber, to whom the sound of rebel cannon seemed a 
challenge no sooner heard than accepted. 

“ From the time the wood was entered, forward was the 
only order. And step by step, from tree to tree, position to 
position, the rebel lines went back, never stopping again— 
infantry, horse and artillery, all went back. The firing was 
grand and terrible. Before us was the Crescent regiment of 
New Orleans; shelling us on the right was the Washington 
Artillery, of Manassas renown, whose last stand was in front 
of Colonel Whittlesey’s command. To and fro, now in my 
front, then in Sherman’s, rode General Beauregard, inciting his 
troops, and fighting for his fading prestige of invincibility. 
The desperation of the struggle may be easily imagined. 

“ While this was in progress, far along the lines to the left 
the contest was raging with equal obstinacy. As indicated 
by the sounds, however, the enemy seemed retiring every¬ 
where. Cheer after cheer rung through the woods. Each 
man felt the day was ours. 

“About four o’clock, the enemy to my front broke into 
rout, and ran through the camps occupied by General Sher¬ 
man on Sunday morning. Their own camp had been estab¬ 
lished about two miles beyond. There, without halting 1 , they 
fired tents, stores, etc. Throwing out the wounded, they 
filled their wagons full of arms, (Springfield muskets and 
Enfield rifles,) ingloriously thrown away by some of our troops 
the day before, and hurried on. After following them until 
nearly nightfall, I brought my division back to Owl Creek, 
and bivouacked it.” 

Buell, with Nelson’s and Crittenden’s divisions, pressed 
into the enemy’s right as obstinately as Wallace had pressed 
their extreme left. Buell thus briefly states the important 
services of his command : 

“ Ammen’s brigade, which was on the left, advanced in good 
order upon the enemy’s right, but was checked for some time 
by his endeavor to turn our left flank, and by his strong center 
attack in front. Captain Terrell, who, in the mean time, had 
taken an advanced position, was compelled to retire, leaving one 
caisson, of which every horse was killed or disabled. It was 
very soon recovered. Having been reinforced by a regiment 
from General Boyle’s brigade, Nelson’s division again moved 


38 


BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING. 


forward, and forced the enemy to abandon entirely his posi¬ 
tion. This success flanked the enemy at his second and third 
batteries, from which he was soon driven, with the loss of 
several pieces of artillery by the concentrated fire of Terrelfs 
and Mendenhall’s batteries, and an attack from Crittenden’s 
division in front. The enemy made a second stand some eight 
hundred yards in rear of this position, and opened fire with 
his artillery. Mendenhall’s battery was thrown forward, 
silenced the battery, and it was captured by Crittenden’s 
division, the enemy retreating from it. In the mean time, the 
division of General McCook on the right, which became 
engaged somewhat later in the morning than the divisions on 
the left, had made steady progress, until it drove the enemy’s 
left from the hotly-contested field. The action was com¬ 
menced in this division by General Rosseau’s brigade, which 
drove the enemy in front of it from his first position, and 
captured a battery. The line of attack of this division caused 
a considerable widening of the space between it and Critten¬ 
den’s right. It was also outflanked on its right by the line 
of the enemy, who made repeated strong attacks on its flanks, 
but was always gallantly repulsed. The enemy made his 
last decided stand in front of this division, in the woods 
beyond Sherman’s camp.” 

Nelson speaks of his commanders with pride and satis¬ 
faction, as well he might. The steadiness of his troops 
contributed materially to the good fortune of the day. 

The services of McCook’s superb brigade already have been 
adverted to in the quotations w T e have given from Sherman’s 
report. But, to do the division more ample justice, we quote 
from McCook’s report: 

“ The enemy’s attack on the right and center was con¬ 
tinuous and severe, but the steady valor of General Rosseau’s 
brigade repulsed him. He was vigorously pursued for the 
distance of a mile, when he received large reinforcements, and 
rallied among the tents of a portion of General McClernand’s, 
division, from which it had been driven on the 6th inst. 
Here, supported by two pieces of artillery which were lost the 
day before, the enemy made a desperate stand. At this 
juncture, Colonel Buckley, 5th Kentucky regiment, charged 
and captured the two guns in position, with four more of the 


REPORT OF 'GENERAL MC COOK. 


39 


same battery partially disabled, which the enemy could not 
carry off. Here General Rosseau had the pleasure of retaking 
General McClernand’s head-quarters. The enemy fell back over 
an open field and re-formed on the skirt of the woods beyond. 
General Rosscau’s brigade then advanced into the open field 
to engage him. The -advance of my division had created a 
space between it and General Crittenden’s, and the enemy 
began mustering troops to take advantage of this gap in our 
lines, made unavoidable by the attempt of the enemy to turn 
my right flank and his subsequent retreat. I immediately 
ordered Colonel Willich to advance to the support of General 
Rosseau’s left, and to give the enemy the bayonet as soon as 
possible. His regiment filed through the line of Colonel Kirk’s 
brigade, which had been withdrawn from the right when the 
danger menacing that flank had passed, and advanced into a 
most withering, fire of shell, canister and musketry, which for 
a moment staggered it; but it was soon rallied, and for an 
account of the numerous conflicts and desperate charges this 
regiment made, I refer you to Colonel Willicli’s report, trans¬ 
mitted herewith. Being now satisfied that the enemy had 
changed his point of attack from the right to my extreme left, 
I ordered Colonel Stambaugh’s 77tli Pennsylvania to take up 
a position on my extreme left, and repel the assault there 
being made. He immediately engaged them, and at this 
moment the contest along the whole line became terrible. 
Colonel Kirk’s brigade was now ordered to engage, and he 
arrived precisely at the right moment* as the cartridges of 
General Rosseau’s brigade were all expended. General 
Rosseau’s brigade fell back through openings made in Colonel 
Kirk’s ranks, and retired to the woods in the rear to be sup¬ 
plied. Three hours before, being convinced from the stub¬ 
bornness with which the enemy was contending, and the 
rapid discharges of my regiments, that their forty rounds of 
cartridges would soon be exhausted, I dispatched Lieutenant 
Campbell, my ordnance officer,Tor teams to bring up ammu¬ 
nition. He arrived at the opportune moment with the three 
wagon-loads. While General Rosseau’s brigade was being 
supplied with ammunition, I ordered Colonel Kirk’s where 
the enemy was still endeavoring to force his way. At this 
moment every available man was ordered to fire, and the 


40 BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING. 

enemy seemed to increase in the vigor and the rapidity of his 
attack. Now the firing for a few moments became terrific. 
The enemy, to retake the ground and battery lost, advanced 
with a force of at least ten thousand men against my two 
brigades, and when he deployed in line of battle, the volleys 
from the contending ranks were two continuous sheets of fire. 
Here Major Levenway, commanding the 34th Illinois, was 
killed by a shell, and the regiment wavered for a moment, 
when Colonel Kirk, Colonel of the regiment but commanding 
the 5th brigade, seized a flag, rushed forward, and steadied 
the line. While doing so, he was severely wounded in the 
shoulder. The enemy now began to turn the left, of Colonel 
Gibson’s brigade, when the 49th Ohio, by this disposition of 
the enemy, was compelled to change its front twice under a 
heavy fire. I am proud to say that this hazardous maneuver 
was performed with apparently as much steadiness as on 
parade. 

“ As soon as General Rosseau’s brigade received its ammu¬ 
nition, it was again ordered into line, and I directed into 
action two regiments belonging to General Hurlbut’s divi¬ 
sion, which had been lying in reserve on my left since 
morning. 

“ When these dispositions were made, I ordered an advance 
of my whole command, which was made in gallant style. 
The enemy did not withstand the charge, but fled, leaving 
all of their wounded, and were pursued by my division 
beyond General Sherman’s head-quarters of the day before, 
when the pursuit was taken up by the cavalry and artillery.” 

Beauregard was everywhere along his lines throughout 
that memorable day, striving by appeal, command, exposure 
of his own person, to arrest the tide of defeat; but to no pur¬ 
pose. The steady flank advances of the Federal wings—the 
solidity of their center, rendered it necessary to “ retire,” if 
he would not be cut off entirely from retreat. Ilis baffled 
and somewhat dispirited brigades fell back slowly, gathering, 
in good order, in upon the Corinth road, which, in all the 
fortunes of the two day’s fight, had been carefully secured 
from any approach of the Unionists. The retreat has been 
described as a rout, but such it was not to any great degree 
Some regiments threw away their arms, blankets, etc., from 


THE BATTLE-FIELD. 


41 


exhaustion, and a reckless disregard of orders; while the 
great numbers of killed, wounded and exhausted so absorbed 
even the transport wagons as to compel the enemy to leave 
behind much of his camp equipage and some of his 
guns. 

The pursuit was feeble. The nature of the woods re¬ 
strained the cavalry in their movements and rendered them 
comparatively useless. Three thousand finely mounted fel¬ 
lows had waited, for two days, an opportunity to ride into the 
conflict; and the order, late in the day of Monday, to pursue 
and harass the enemy, gave them but a brief service. The 
infantry pushed forward only for a mile or two. Colonel 
Wagner’s brigade of General Wood’s division arrived late in 
the day, and was given the order to advance to the front for 
the pursuit; but Buell knew so little of the topography of the 
country that he considered it hazardous to penetrate too far 
into the enemy’s midst. This neglect to press the retreating 
foe gave them the poor consolation of pronouncing their effort 
to stay the Federal advance a success, and thereupon a victory. 
The press of the South quite generally heralded it as a great 
triumph for the Confederates !* They needed some crumb of 
comfort to console them for the loss of Island No. 10, which 
General Pope’s masterly strategy and Commodore Foote’s 
“ irrepressible ” guns gave to the Federal arms with all its 
garrison, armaments, stores, etc., on the morning of the 8th of 
April. 

AFTER TnE BATTLE. 

“ A visit to the field,” wrote a correspondent from the scene 
of the two days’ tragedy, “ immediately after the retreat of 
the rebels and the pursuit of our forces, exhibited a spectacle 

* Beauregard’s dispatch announcing to his Government the tidings of 
the second day’s battle read : 

“ We have gained a great and glorious victory. Eight to ten thousand 
prisoners and thirty-six pieces of cannon. Buell reinforced Grant and we 
retired to our intrenchments at Corinth, which we can hold. Loss heavy 
on both sides.” 

No matter if the “ eight to ten thousand prisoners ” actually was about 
one-third of that number—no matter if his own losses in prisoners was 
considerable—no matter if his losses of artillery exceeded the number given 
as captured by him these facts were only for “private circulation”— 
those given in the dispatch were for the public. His dispatch of April 9th 
—captured at Huntsville by General Mitchell—piteously calling for rein¬ 
forcements, proves how wretchedly he falsified for the public ear when ho 
confidently said he could hold Corinth. 


42 


BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LARDING. 


seldom to be witnessed and most horrible to contemplate. 
The first approaches, occupying the further range of the 
enemy’s guns, showed at the first glance the work of devasta¬ 
tion made by those ball and shell which had overshot the 
mark. Large trees were entirely cut off within ten feet from 
the ground, heavy limbs lay strewn in every direction, and 
pieces of exploded missiles were scattered all around. The 
carcasses of dead horses and the wrecks of wagons strewed all 
the woods, and other evidences of similar character marked 
every step of the way. 

“ Half a mile further on, and the more important feature of 
the struggle was brought to view. Dead bodies in the wmods, 
the dead and dying in the fields, lying in every conceivable 
shape, met the gaze on either hand. Some lay on their back, 
with their clenched hands raised at arm’s length, upright in 
the air. Others had fallen with their guns fast in their grasp, 
as if they were in the act of loading them when the fatal shaft 
struck them dead. Others still had received the winged mes¬ 
senger of death, and Avith their remaining strength had crawled 
away from further danger, and, sheltering themselves behind 
old logs, had lain down to die. Here were the bodies of those 
who had fallen yesterday, and mingled with them were those 
from whose wounds the blood was yet trickling away. The 
scene beggars all description, and I do not wish to attempt to 
depict its horrors. The fatality on the open space I have 
referred to as the “ Battalion Drill Ground,” was the greatest 
which came under my observation. 

“ The canister which had swept it over in the morning had 
been terrible in its results. Strongly contested as its posses¬ 
sion had been by both sides, yet the dead were as five to one 
on the side of the rebels. One man here was in a bent posi¬ 
tion, resting on his hands and feet, with his face downward, 
yet cold and rigid as marble. One had crawled away to the 
border of the woods, and ensconcing himself between two logs, 
had spread his blanket above him to shield him, perhaps, from 
the rain of the previous night. He was a wounded rebel, and 
he pitifully asked ‘ if we could do any thing for him ?’ At 
his feet lay the body of one of those Union boys I have spoken 
of as having had his hair burned from his head. On inter¬ 
rogating the rebel as to the cause of his being in such a 


THE FORCES ENGAGED. 43 

condition, liis only reply was, ‘ I do not know, I did not do it.’ 
We assured him that an ambulance would soon be at hand, to 
take him to better quarters, and left him. 

“ The larger guns had done some strange work. One case I 
saw where the entire lower portion of a man’s foot had been 
carried away, leaving two toes and the upper portion remain¬ 
ing. Another had been struck by a bullet on the forehead, 
and the missile had followed the curve of the head entirely 
around to the termination of the hair on the back portion of 
his cranium. The case of the celebrated Kansas scout, Carson 
(not Kit,) was horrifying. His face and the entire lower por¬ 
tion of his head were entirely gone, his brain dabbling into 
the little pool of blood which had gathered in the cavity below. 
I could fill pages with such cases, but it is useless to particu¬ 
larize. Suffice it to say that the slaughter is immense.” 

Captain Jackson, of General Grant’s staff, said : “ The field 
of battle presented a sorry spectacle. It extended over a dis¬ 
tance of fiye miles in length and three-quarters of a mile in 
width. This space was fought over twice in regular battle 
array, and many times in the fluctuating fortunes of the dif¬ 
ferent portions of the two armies. It was covered with dead 
and.wounded. Where the artillery had taken effect, men lay 
in heaps, covering rods of ground, mingled in wild masses of 
mangled horses, broken gun-carriages and all the dread debris 
of a battle-field. Where our men had made their desperate 
charges, the bodies lay in rows as they had received the bay¬ 
onet, constituting, at particular points, parapets of flesh and 
blood, over which a battle might have been fought as over a 
breast-work. Not a tree or a sapling in that whole space 
which was not pierced through and through with cannon-shot 
and musket-balls, and, if we may believe the accounts, there 
was scarcely a rod of ground on the five miles which did not 
have a dead or w T ounded man upon it.” 

THE REGIMENTS AND ARTILLERY ENGAGED. 

The report of losses hereafter given will tell the sad story 
for the various brigades and divisions; the reports of brigade 
commanders give the regiments and battalions, as such, prom¬ 
inent mention; but, who shall tell the deeds of individual 
members of regiments and batteries ? The victory was only 


44 


BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING. 


won by the heroic fortitude of men, many of whom never 
before had been under fire; and the field is written all over 
wjth the record of those whose unfaltering heroism gave the 
name of Pittsburg Landing to the hardest fought and noblest 
won battle of the American continent. May their names and 
deeds be brought to the light, that their country shall do them 
due honor! 

The several correspondents present during the conflict added 
their testimony to the valor of particular regiments, and also 
recorded many instances of personal devotion. Some of these 
we may affix to our record, to strengthen the proofs, which 
now so plentifully exist, that Northern men are among the 
very best soldiers—in the widest acceptation of the word— 
who ever stood upon a modern field of battle. What country 
ever before created such an army out of six hundred thousand 
citizens—many of whom were unacquainted with even the 
simplest principles of military science ? What war is so alive 
in its history, with deeds of honor and glory ? 

Prom the several letters written on the field the day after 
the battle, we quote: “ When the 11th Illinois were mustered 
on Monday morning, they could bring but forty-five men into 
the field. The 9th Illinois, Paine’s old regiment, mustered 
only two hundred effective men. Colonel Frye’s regiment 
were the only Illinois boys that acted badty.” 

“ The Illinois men, already famous at Donelson, fought like 
devils to sustain their well-earned reputation. The same may 
be said of Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, and some of 
the Iowa regiments.” 

“ The 1st and 2d Kentucky, in the fight, were the men for 
the position they occupied. They, as well as the 6th, were 
under a galling fire for not less than five hours, yet when. the 
enemy thought proper to turn their faces toward the ‘ most 
sacred soil of Mississippi,’ they were ready and eager to fol¬ 
low, which they did with great alacrity.” 

“ The Ohio 54th Zouave regiment were at their post in the 
thickest of the fight. Also the 57th, and remembered that 
Ohio wished all her sons to do their duty.” 

“Taylor’s and Waterhouse’s batteries, supported by the 23d 
Illinois, 77tli and 53d Ohio regiments, were first in the fight. 
Both the Ohio regiments ran—the 77th without firing a gun, 


EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS. 


45 


leaving Waterhouse without any support. He fought for 
half an hour, however, retiring with three guns. He was 
wounded in the thigh by a Minie ball. His battery is badly 
cut up. Taylor’s battery continued to fight, supported splen¬ 
didly by the Illinois regiment, until he and his support were 
outflanked, on both sides, He then retired through a cross¬ 
fire, having one man killed and seventeen wounded.” 

“ Waterhouse, with his three guns, took up a second posi¬ 
tion supported by the 2d brigade of McClernand’s division, 
composed of the 11th, 17tli, 20th, 45th and 48th Illinois, 
Colonel Marsh commanding. During the forenoon they were 
compelled to retire through their own encampment, with 
heavy loss, into the -woods. There a second line of battle was 
formed, when McClernand ordered an advance. A hundred 
rods brought the solid columns within sight of the rebels, and 
then followed one of the most fiercely-contested and san¬ 
guinary engagements of that desperate field. It resulted in 
the repulse of the rebels, who were driven back through our 
encampments. Then the enemy was reinforced, and Colonel 
Marsh, finding his ammunition about expended, gave his posi¬ 
tion to another brigade. It, however, was soon compelled to 
retreat before the overwhelming forces of the enemy. 

“ At this moment the gunboats opened fire, throwing the 
shells over our heads, and covered the ground.in every direc¬ 
tion with the rebel slain. Taylor’s battery again took a posi¬ 
tion on the parade ground of the 1st division, and opened on 
the rebel battery eight hundred yards distant. A splendid 
artillery duel took place. The rebel battery was silenced, and 
their caisson blown up. Taylor’s battery was then ordered 
into a reserve. 

“ On Monday a fine Michigan battery, captured by the enemy 
the day before, was retaken by the 16th Wisconsin, at the point 
of the bayonet. The fight, after taking this battery, was con¬ 
ducted by General Beauregard in person. In his efforts to 
recover it he was wounded in the arm. He was successful in 
taking it, but it was again taken from him. It was retaken 
and recaptured no less than six times. 

“ Company A of the Chicago Light Artillery, who were so 
severely handled on the first day, were only able to man three 
guns on Monday; but with these, after a desperate contest, 


46 BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING. 

they- succeeded completely in silencing and capturing a rebel 
battery of six guns. They were, however, compelled to 
abandon it from waut of horses ; their own pieces were brought 
off by hand.” 

The report of General Lew Wallace especially commended 
the Nebraska 1st, the 20th, 58th, 76th and 78th Ohio, and the 
23d Indiana. The Indiana 25th literally “ covered itself with 
glory.” The Indiana 6th, 9th, 11th, 31st, 32d, 24th, 43d and 
57th all performed most honorable parts in the terrible drama. 

Of the United States regulars, there was a fine representa¬ 
tion. They were used at those points where the utmost stead¬ 
iness was demanded, and fought with the consummate skill 
and perfect coolness which preeminently distinguishes our 
regular service. 

The losses of the Illinois regiments in McClernand’s divi¬ 
sion were very heavy, in officers and men. Several of the 
regiments, indeed, mustered less than half their numbers after 
the fight. The following is the tabular report of losses in 
that division : 


REGIMENTS. 

KILLED. 

WOUNDED. 

MISSING. 

Command. 

Officers. 

Enlisted 

Men. 

Command. 

Officers. 

Enlisted 

Men. 

Enlisted 

Men. 

TOTAL. 

1st Brigade —8tli Illinois, 

1 

22 

7 

84 

3 

177 

18th Illinois, 

1 

10 

6 

57 

3 

77 

11th Iowa, 

1 

28 

8 

139 

1 

177 

13th Iowa, 

2 

23 

9 

130 

11 

175 

2d Brigade— 11th Illinois, 

1 

13 

6 

65 

13 

97 

20th Illinois, 

1 

21 

6 

98 

10 

136 

45th Illinois, 

3 

22 

10 

162 

— 

197 

48th Illinois, 

1 

16 

5 

84 

23 

129 

3d Brigade— 17th Illinois, 

— 

14 

5 

111 

9 

139 

29th Illinois, 

3 

14 

1 

71 

17 

106 

43d Illinois, 

6 

39 

9 

122 

146 

312 

49tli Illinois, 

1 

10 

6 

98 

— 

115 

Artillery —14th Ohio Battery, 

— 

4 

— 

23 

— 

29 

McAllister’s, 

— 

— 

1 

11 

_ 

11 

Dresser’s, 

— 

4 

1 

20 

— ; 

26 

Schwartz’s, 

— 

1 

— 

4 


5 

Cavalry— Stewart’s, 

— 

— 

1 

1 

— 

2 















captain waddell’s a«ount. 


47 


And as an evidence of tlie stubborn courage of these men, 
we may give the story of the Illinois 11th, as related by Captain 
Waddell, of Company E, in a letter to his father. He wrote : 

“It was nearly half a mile from our encampment to the 
position where the enemy had attacked us. The order for 
‘ double quick ’ was given, and we were soon on the field of 
action. We had not to wait long, for soon in front of us was 
seen—not three hundred yards distant—the enemy, five regi¬ 
ments deep, advancing steadily. It was a glorious but a ter¬ 
rible sight. The order was, ‘ The whites of their eyes, boys, 
and then give it to them,’ and the 11th was again engaged. 
Never, never in my life have I seen, or in the annals of his¬ 
tory have I read of such a death-struggle. 

“ Our men fought well at Donelson, but never did they 
fight as they fought on the 6th of April. The enemy were 
repulsed; they stood for a moment seemingly thunderstruck, 
and then broke their ranks and started to fly. The officers 
rallied them,, and then, under a most galling fire, commenced 
retrieving their lost ground. Our regiment being badly cut 
up—Colonel Ransom shot in the head, (not mortally,) Captain 
Carter dead, Captain Coats mortally wounded, five or six 
of our Lieutenants down, and no reserve coming to our as¬ 
sistance—the order was given to fall back. We gradually, but 
obstinately, fell back. We were soon cheered -by the assist¬ 
ance of several regiments coming up, who filed in our front, 
and we were for a time relieved. We fell back—and what a 
sight! Not one hundred men remained in the 11th ! It was 
an awful sight to look at that little band, besmeared with 
blood and dirt, with their trusty guns in their-hands, looking 
along the line to see how many of their beloved companions 
were left to them. It was a sight I never wish to see again. 
But, there was little time to lose, and no time to complain. 
The General came up, and asked if that was all that was left 
of the 11th. ‘ Yes,’ was the reply. ‘Well, my men,’ he said, 

‘ we must win this day, or all will be lost. Will you try it 
again?’ ‘We will, General,’ was the response. The boys 
called on me to lead them. I formed the regiment (or com¬ 
pany, as it was) on the left of the 70th Ohio regiment, and 
was again ordered to take our position in front. Ten min¬ 
utes’ time and we are again engaged.” 


48 


BATTLE#OF PITTSBURG LANDING. 


INCIDENTS. 

The two days’ battle was characterized by so many pecu¬ 
liar circumstances that quite a volume might be made up in 
relating the stories of regiments, of companies, and of their 
men. Of deeds of valor worthy of Roman renown and of 
cowardice unworthy of men—of endurance, patience, suffer¬ 
ing, whicli tested the powers of the physical system in a most 
extraordinary degree—of self-sacrifice and devotion—of enthu¬ 
siasm and faith in the final triumph—enough could be said to 
make the battle of Pittsburg Landing memorable in the annals 
of the memorable war. We are only permitted to recur to 
a few of such as seem well calculated to add interest to the 
narrative here given of the prolonged struggle. 

One who visited the scene of action for observation, a few 
days after the “ bloody Sunday,” thus referred to some of the 
incidents of the field : 

“ On Sunday, especialty, several portions of the ground 
were fought over three and four times, and the two lines 
swayed backward and forward like advancing and retreating 
waves. In repeated instances, rebel and Union soldiers, pro¬ 
tected by the trees, were within thirty feet of'"each other. 
The rebels derisively shouted ‘Bull Run,’ and our men re¬ 
turned the taunt by crying ‘ Donelson.’ Many of the camps, 
as they were lost and won, lost again, and retaken, received 
showers ef balls. At the close of the fight, General McCler- 
nand’s tent contained twenty-seven bullet-lioles, and his Adju¬ 
tant’s thirty-two. Chairs, tables, mess-pans, camp-kettles and 
other articles of camp furniture were riddled. In the Adju¬ 
tant’s tent, when our forces recaptured it, the body of a rebel 
was found in a sitting position. He had evidently stopped 
for a moment’s rest, when a ball struck and killed him. In 
one tree I have counted sixty bullet-holes. Another tree, not 
more than eighteen inches in diameter, which was in front of 
General Lew Wallace’s division, bears the mark of more than 
ninety balls within ten feet of the ground. On Sunday, 
Company A, of the 49tli Illinois, lost from one volley twenty- 
nine men, including three officers; and on Monday morning 
the company appeared on the ground commanded by a 
Second Sergeant. General McClernand’s 3d Brigade, which 


INCIDENTS OF THE BATTLE. 


49 


was led by Colonel Raith until lie was mortally wounded, 
changed commanders three times during the battle. On 
Monday morning, one of General Hurlbut’s regiments (the 3d 
Iowa) was commanded by a First Lieutenant, and others were 
in command of Captains.” 

Such statements would be discredited were they not con¬ 
firmed by those of other writers who have visited the field. 
They serve to prove how appalling must have'been the 
slaughter, and yet out of the awful picture how the one great 
fact stands forth in a halo of glory—that of the courage of 
the Northern men! Such courage has in it elements of sub¬ 
limity which would immortalize any other people. But of 
Americans it is expected , and, therefore, will not especially be 
noted by writers on the War. The correspondent above 
referred to says of the personal bearing and hair-breadth 
escapes of some of the commanders : 

“ General Grant is an illustration of the fortune through 
which some men, in the thickest showers of bullets, always 
escape. He has participated in two skirmishes and fourteen 
pitched battles, and is universally pronounced, by those who 
have seen him on the field, daring even to rashness ; but he 
has never received a scratch. At four o’clock on Sunday 
evening, he was sitting upon his horse, just in the rear of our 
line of batteries, when Captain Carson, the scout who had 
reported to him a moment before, had fallen back, and was 
holding his horse by the bridle, about seven feet behind him. 
A six-pound shot, which flew very near General Grant, car¬ 
ried away all Carson’s head, except a portion of the chin, 
passed just behind Lieutenant Graves, volunteer aid to Gene¬ 
ral Wilson, tearing away the cantle of his saddle, cutting his 
clothing but not injuring him, and then took off the legs of a 
soldier in one-of General Nelson’s regiments, which were just 
ascending the bluff. 

“ About the same hour, further up to the right, General 
Sherman, who had been standing for a moment, while Major 
Hammond, his chief of staff, was holding his bridle, re¬ 
mounted. By the prancing of his horse, as he mounted, 
General Sherman’s reins were thrown over his neck, and he 
was leaning forward in the saddle, Avitli his head lowered, 
while Major Hammond was bringing them back over his head, 


50 


BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING. 


when a rifle-ball struck the line in Major Hammond’s hand, 
severing it, within two inches of his fingers, and passing 
through the top and back of General Sherman’s hat. Had 
he been sitting upright it would have struck his head. At 
another time a ball struck General Sherman on the shoulder, 
but his metallic shoulder-strap warded it off. With a third 
he was less fortunate, for it passed through his hand; but 
now he has nearly recovered from the wound. General 
Sherman had’ three horses shot under him, two with three 
balls each, and the last with two. It is the universal testi¬ 
mony that he maneuvered his troops admirably, and that he 
is the hero of the battle. His nomination to a Major-Gen¬ 
eralship is a deserved tribute to one of the best officers in our 
service. 

“ General Hurlbut had a six-pound shot pass between his 
horse’s head and his arm; a bullet passed through his horse’s 
mane, and one of his horses was killed under him. Lieuten¬ 
ants Dorchester and Long, of his staff, each had several bul¬ 
lets and pieces of shell strike their clothing. Lieutenant 
Tesilian, of General McClernand’s staff, had his clothing per¬ 
forated by five balls, without receiving a wound. Major 
Hammond, of General Sherman’s staff, had his cap cut by 
two bullets, and his boots by two, and two horses shot under 
him, but he escaped uninjured. A private in the 17th Illi¬ 
nois had two of his front teeth knocked out by a bullet, 
which, though it entered his mouth, did him no further 
injury. A rifle-ball struck the temple of another private 
near his right ear, passed through his head and came out 
near the left ear; but he is recovering. Lieutenant Charles 
Provost, of the 1st Nebraska, received a bullet in the clasp of 
his sword-belt, and was afterward knocked down by the wind¬ 
age of a cannon-ball, but was not injured.” 

The statement has gone forth that General Prentiss was 
made prisoner at the first early onslaught of the enemy, when 
his division w r as driven in upoli Sherman’s lines. But, this is 
an error deserving of correction. Prentiss’ men fought well 
even in retiring, while his tried regiments w r ere every thing 
which their gallant commander could require. They retired 
to re-form, and came into the conflict to fight up to late in the 
afternoon under Prentiss’ personal lead. They maintained 


buell’s stkategy. 


51 


a stand on McClernand’s left and Hurlbut’s right. A 
writer from the field said “ In the thick underbrush where 
they made their last stand, almost every shrub and bush, 
though no larger than one’s finger, has been struck by bul¬ 
lets ; and I have seen no spot on the entire field which evi¬ 
dences more desperate fighting. The last time General 
Prentiss met General Hurlbut, he asked him : ‘ Can you hold 
your line V General Hurlbut replied, ‘ I think I can.’ Hot 
long after he sent a messenger to General Prentiss, to inform 
him that he was forced back, but the messenger was probably 
killed, as he has never returned. About the same time, 
General McClernand was forced back on his right and 
Prentiss, without knowing that his supports on each side 
were gone, held his line. The enemy both on his right and 
left, was half a mile in his rear before he discovered it, and 
his capture was inevitable.” This is confirmed by Hurlbut’s 
report, already quoted in these pages. 

One of General Buell’s maneuvers, characteristic of his off¬ 
hand and reliable way of meeting exigencies, is happily illus¬ 
trated in the following: 

“ The rebels were advancing in great force to turn our left 
and capture our transports and supplies, when Buell, becom¬ 
ing aware of their intentions, made preparations to receive 
them. About half a mile above the Landing are two large 
ridges running back from the river. The ridge next to the 
Landing is the highest. Buell placed a battery on each of 
the ridges, and between them he placed a brigade of infantry. 
The troops were ordered to lie down. He then ordered the 
lower battery to fire on the enemy and make a show of re¬ 
treating in confusion, so to draw the rebels on. On came the 
rebels pell-mell, yelling at the top of their voices, ‘Bull 
Run !’ ‘ Bull Run !’ thinking to frighten us. As soon as the 
rebels came in range, the lower battery, agreeably to orders, 
opened fire, retreated, and took a position in the rear of the 
upper battery. The rebels, seeing our men retreating, 
charged up the hill and took possession of the battery. The 
rebels, in the mean time, were not aware of our troops being 
in the hollow below them. At this moment the signal was 
sounded, and the whole brigade rose to their feet and poured 
a deadly fire of rifle-balls into the ranks of the rebels, cutting 


52 


BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING. 


them down by scores. At this favorable moment, also, tho 
upper battery poured in a perfect storm of grape and canister 
shot. The rebels reeled and staggered like drunken men, and 
at last broke and fled in every direction, leaving the ground 
strewed with dead and dying.” 

Of the General’s conduct in battle, one of his men w r rote : 
“ I wish you could have seen the gallantry, the bravery, the 
dauntless daring, the coolness of General Buell. He seemed 
to be omnipresent. If ever man was qualified to command 
an army it is he. He is a great, a very great General, and 
has proved himself so; not only in organizing and disciplining 
an army, but in handling it. General Buell had his horse shot 
under him. Captain Wright, his Aid, had the visor of his cap 
touched by a ball.” 

LOSSES. 

The official reports of losses were made up with exceeding 
slowness, owing to the wide extent of the battle-field, the large 
proportion of scattered and disorganized men, the difficulty of 
obtaining hospital returns, and to the defective hospital arrange¬ 
ments, which compelled the immediate shipment of great num¬ 
bers of wounded to Cairo and other points where proper care 
could be given them. The tabular statement as finally pro¬ 
duced was: 

grant’s army. 


DIVISIONS. 

1—General McClernand, 

KIDDED. 

251 

■WOUNDED. 

1,351 

MISSING. 

236 

TOTAD. 

1,848 

2—General W. H. L. Wallace, 

228 

1,033 

1,163 

2,424 

3—General Lew Wallace, 

43 

257 

5 

305 

4—General Hurlbut, 

313 

1,449 

223 

1,985 

5—General Sherman, 

318 

1,275 

441 

2,034 

C—General Prentiss, 

196 

562 

1,802 

2,760 

Total, 1,349 5,927 

buell’s army. 

3,870 

11,356 

2—General McCook, 

95 

793 

8 

896 

4—General Nelson, 

90 

591 

58 

739 

5—General Crittenden, 

80 

410 

27 

517 


— 

— 

— 

_ 

Total, 

265 

1,794 

93 

2,152 


— 

— 

— 

_ 

Grand Total, 

1,614 

7,721 

3,963 

13,508 



FORCES OF TIIE ENEMY. 


53 


As to the enemy’s loss, no authentic data are available. It is 
stated that after Monday’s fight, General McClernand’s divi¬ 
sion buried the remains of six hundred and thirty-eight rebels 
left upon the field, General Sherman’s six hundred, General 
Nelson’s two hundred and sixty-three, and Colonel Thayer’s 
brigade of General Lew Wallace’s division, one hundred and 
twenty-three. These were the only commands from which 
returns were received; but the most of the other divisions and 
brigades buried a proportionate number. The rebels must 
have lost four thousand killed, by the most moderate estimate. 
After the battle, Captain Russell, of the 6th Ohio, counted the 
bodies of one hundred and twenty-six rebels, lying where they 
fell, upon a strip of land less than one-fourth of a mile long, 
and fifty yards in width. Eleven of them, in front, had fallen 
nearly in line, about five paces apart, and were evidently 
skirmishers. Colonel Thayer, of the 1st Nebraska, in another 
portion of the field, opposite General Sherman’s division, 
counted thirty-seven dead rebels, side by side, who had evi¬ 
dently been killed while in line of battle, by a single volley. 
Sixty-eight were counted in front of the ground held by the 
48th Ohio, and eighty-five in front of the 72d Ohio. A detail 
of men from General McCook’s division buried in a single 
trench one hundred and forty-seven, including three Lieuten¬ 
ant-Colonels and four Majors. A tabular statement published 
in the Memphis Argus , April 24th, confessed to nine hundred 
and twenty-seven killed, four thousand four hundred and 
seventy-one wounded and three hundred and sixty-one miss¬ 
ing. As this statement was but fragmentary, and “ daily 
additions were being made to the list,” it was only valuable 
for showing what regiments were in the engagement. They 
were (so far as named): 154th Tennessee! 15th Tennessee; 
Blythe’s “ MississippiBreckenridge’s brigade ; 11th, 1st, 13th, 
ancl_4th Louisiana; 2d, 4th, 47th, 6th, 1st, 22d, 13th, 5th, 20th, 
19th, 28th, 45th and 33d Tennessee; 20th, 22d,25th and 16tli 
Alabama; 1st and 13th Arkansas; 7tli Kentucky; 15th and 
22d Mississippi; 1st Missouri; Polk’s, Bank’s and Stamford’s 
batteries; Forrest’s Cavalry, etc., etc. Several complies of 
Texan rangers were also engaged in the fight. 

Bearing on the enemy’s losses we may cite the dispatch of 
Beauregard to Adjutant-General Cooper, of the Confederate 


54 


BATTLE OP PITTSBURG LANDING. 


army establishment. That dispatch was intercepted by Gen¬ 
eral Mitchell in his rapid and unexpected descent on Hunts¬ 
ville, Alabama, where the telegraph office was seized. In its 
freshly-booked business file was found the following: 

“ Corinth, April 9. 

“ To General Samuel .Cooper, Richmond, Va. : 

“ All present probabilities are that whenever the enemy 
moves on this position he will do so with an overwhelming 
force of not less than vrzole xriy lohkjnap men, by wna ahe 
vkjlyi hate nqhkl lorite xrmy lohkjnap yx31 wlrmqj mna pliia 
may possibly shrakj rau xyc pnejcrlo nghkl xrlly 5a lohkjnap 
vhmy. Can we not be reinforced xrhn dyvgzillmj nive. If 
defeated here cy thjy lov vrjq mnt3yc nap dcliqn4te liki 
wnkjy whereas we could even afford to lose for awhile woni- 
lyjlha nap inmzu5yl for the purpose of defeating qkyt4j nive, 
which would not only insure us the valley of the Mississippi, 
but our independence. P. G. T. Beauregard.” 

The “ astronomer General ” was not long in deciphering 
this. He had studied the laws of refraction and reflection too 
long to be baffled by this divertisement. Here is the transla¬ 
tion : 

“ Corinth, April 9. 

“ To General Samuel Cooper, Richmond, Va:: 

“ All present probabilities are that whenever the enemy 
moves on this position he will do so with an overwhelming 
force of not less than eighty-five thousand men. We can now 
muster only about thirty-five thousand effective (men.) Van 
Dorn may possibly join us in a few days with fifteen thousand 
more. Can we not be reinforced from Pemberton’s army ? 
If defeated here we lose the Mississippi valley, and. probably 
our cause; whereas we could even afford to lose for a while 
Charleston and Savannah, for the purpose of defeating Buell’s 
army, which would not only insure us the valley of the Mis¬ 
sissippi but our independence. P. G. T. Beauregard.” 

This tells a woeful story of losses, for it is certain that, in 
the attack of Sunday, forty-five thousand men were engaged ; 
while ii? that of Monday, at least seventy-five thousand men 
were brought into the field. The General doubtless con¬ 
sidered a large portion of his command non-effective from 
exhaustion, demoralization, desertion, and sickness. The 


THE DOINGS OF GENERAL MITCHELL. 


55 


killed and wounded, it has been ascertained, exceeded , by one- 
third, the Federal loss. 


MITCHELL’S DOINGS. 

We should have adverted to the performances of General 
Mitchell, whose rapid strokes to the south of Nashville, cutting 
off Beauregard’s connections with the East, had been so 
effectual as to send consternation into the rebel heart. Such 
a campaign as that executed by the astronomer had never 
been deemed probable; yet there he was at Huntsville, 
Alabama, April 9th, to intercept the rebel commander’s rein¬ 
forcements, for which his pitiful appeal had been made. 

Mitchell left Nashville with his division at the date of 
Buell’s departure. Buell pushed across the country toward 
Pittsburg, going by way of Columbia. The astronomer 
struck directly for Murfreesboro. From thence his strokes 
were so rapid that he was in Huntsville before the country 
was aware of the purpose of the movement. After Huntsville, 
Decatur and Florence fell, thus closing the East to the enemy, 
and compelling him to draw all supplies and reinforcements 
from the South and West. 

The capitulation of Island No. 10—on the morning of the 
“ bloody Sunday”—gave our forces the vantage ground on the 
Mississippi, and left General Pope’s splendid brigades available 
for use on the field around Corinth, whither he was soon 
called. Being assigned the extreme left of Halleck’s army, he 
closed the avenue of descent upon Mitchell, by detachments from 
Beauregard’s army—leaving the Federal General to punish 
the enemy wherever he could be found—a pleasure not often 
afforded, since, in almost all instances, the rebels fled before 
the* astronomer’s unconquerable and tireless legion. 

DISPOSITION OF HIS FORCES. 

The General having pressed down upon the Tennessee had 
necessarily greatly scattered his not very extensive forces in 
descents upon Decatur, Florence, Tuscumbia, while the General 
held Huntsville as a point d’dppui. Before the forces investing 
Corinth were so disposed as to employ all the enemy’s attention, 



56 


BATTLE OF PITTSBUKG LANDING. 


Mitchell stood in danger of a visitation from a section of 
Beauregard’s army. It was, therefore, necessary to withdraw 
his brigades from Tuscumbia and Decatur, for a while. 
Generals Turchin and Lythe, in occupancy of these positions, 
burned the bridge at Decatur, and then fell back upon Hunts- 
vilLe, while General Mitchell was building a bridge at a point 
beyond Stevenson. A correspondent wrote of the positions: 

“ While these two Generals were engaged in destroying the 
bridge at Decatur, Generals Mitchell and Siel were engaged in 
building another at a point beyond Stevenson—the division 
commander having determined to contract his lines and hold 
the positions gained north of the Tennessee more strongly. It 
must be understood that General Mitchell did not hold the 
whole of this part of the railroad north of the river. His left 
was at Stevenson, or rather a few miles east of it, but the 
rebel right was north of the Tennessee, and advanced to the 
very left of General Mitchell. They thus had the bridge at 
this point by which to cross the river, and were only separated 
from us by a stream three hundred feet wide, and which is 
fordable in half a dozen places near the scene'of action. In 
contracting his line by drawing in his right he appears to 
have purposed extending his left, and placing the river 
between himself and his foes at Chattanooga. 

“ General Mitchell was aware of the movements from 
Chattanooga to Bridgeport, and the work of intrenching going 
on at both places. The enemy’s force consisted of two regi¬ 
ments of cavalry, amounting to one thousand six hundred men, 
five regiments of infantry, and a battery of light rifled pieces. 
These had advanced to the west end of the bridge at this point, 
ten miles from Stevenson, and had thrown up a long rifle pit, 
at the right of which was an unfinished fort. This position 
defended the approach to the bridge which spans the Tennes¬ 
see. These works were on the crest of a hill which ran* at 
right angles with the bridge, and which the railroad passed 
with a slight cut.” 

THE STRATEGY OF THE FLANK MOVEMENT. 

Of the movements which resulted in the capture of Bridge¬ 
port and disordered retreat of the enemy we are thus informed 
by one who was present: 


THE MARCH TOWARD BRIDGEPORT. 


57 


“ Tlie left of General Mitchell, previous to liis movement 
on Bridgeport, was at Stevenson. 

“ On Sunday morning (April 21st) the brigade was engaged 
in building the bridge which two weeks before they had 
destroyed. At the same time and day another brigade was 
engaged in burning the one at Decatur. It can not be denied 
that General Mitchell is a Protean commander, as he appears 
at one and the same time at different places, one hundred 
miles apart, building and burning, contracting and expanding, 
retreating and attacking, and he, more than all this, builds 
bridges as rapidly as he burns them. He occupied Sunday 
in destroying the Decatur bridge. He took only the same 
time and the same day to build the bridge over which he was 
to march to victory. The bridge—which is four miles east 
of Stevenson—is three hundred feet in length, yet it was com¬ 
pleted in twenty-four hours, and a regiment passed over to the 
further shore, As the stream which it spans is, at that point, 
twenty feet deep, an idea can be conceived of the magnitude 
of the undertaking and the extent of the labor. 

“ As soon as the bridge was completed the brigade was 
transported by cars to within four miles of Bridgeport. This 
was accomplished with difficulty on Monday and Tuesday 
mornings, the entire force not being safely landed until about 
noon to-day. It was found impossible to use horses on the 
march, which was along the railroad for a mile, so General 
Mitchell ordered two of his lighter guns by hand to the point 
of attack. The march was made slowly and quietly, the 
rebel pickets at a point three miles from Bridgeport not being 
reached until three o’clock. They were driven in, but not 
followed closely. They fell back upon a large cavalry force, 
and one regiment of infantry, who, expecting General Mitchell 
to advance by railroad, placed themselves in position to 
receive him. 

“But, with a rapidity which discovered that the plan was 
not formed at the moment, but had been studied and formed 
deliberately, General Mitchell ordered a regiment to the right, 
and hastily and quietly the whole column marched through 
the woods and reached the direct road which led to Bridge¬ 
port. Fences fell, and the brushwood and wild flowers were 
Irampled uuder foot by the eager men who pushed on to the 


58 


BATTLE OF’ PITTSBURG LANDING. 


conflict for which they were so anxious. The men toiled at 
the heavy caissons and limbers. The rope over a hundred 
shoulders grew heavy, and the bearers weary, but they never 
halted. The road at last was reached, and on they hastened ; 
no command, no cheering words from commanders, were 
necessary to urge them forward. The prospect of a fight was 
sufficiently invigorating.” 

THE REBEL BOUT. 

“ By this flank movement, after two hours’ march, General 
Mitchell placed himself in that usually deemed horrible posi¬ 
tion—between two forces of the enemy. A mile to the right 
of our rear one regiment of infantry and two of cavalry were 
drawn up in position, waiting and wondering why we did not 
attack them. Not more than the same distance, and directly 
in his front, were four regiments of infantry drawn up in line 
of battle, and hidden from him by a hill, not more than a 
hundred yards to the crest, easy of ascent; a thick wood to 
the right, and an open field to the left. No other alarm than 
that given when the pickets were driven in two hours before 
was vouchsafed to the rebels until they received one which 
was an “ astonislier” indeed. 

“ The line of battle was formed at the foot of the hill, the 
two pieces of artillery, charged with shell, in the center. The 
order was given, and the line marched forward toward the 
crest of the hill. Before reaching it they were halted. Above 
the top of the gentle slope they saw the enemy drawn up in 
line in their works, two pieces of artillery peering from their 
unfinished fort. The force looked equal to their own, and 
the men braced themselves for an encounter which they had 
feared would not test their merit. The artillery just peered 
above the top of the hill, catching at a glance, as it were, the 
scene in its front, and comprehending the duty before it. A 
moment’s consultation ensued between General Mitchell and 
the Captain of artillery. The gunners fixed their scales, the 
pieces were graduated for the distance, and in a few seconds 
the two shells burst in the very midst of the grand rebel 
reserve. The consternation, created by this unexpected attack 
can be. better imagined than described. Their artillery was 
never worked. They appeared to conclude that their cavalry 


THE CAVALRY SURPRISE. 


59 


and infantry regiments in front liad been taken, and not 
relishing the same fate for themselves, they began to fall back. 
The consternation into which they had been thrown was 
evident to General Mitchell, and, after a second round of shell, 
he ordered a rapid advance, and over the hill and across the 
valley went the whole line on a double-quick. But the rebels 
did not wait for our approach. A stampede began, and was 
not finished until the river was placed between themselves 
and our infantry. Captain Loomis sent shell after shell after 
them, which only served to increase their speed, and they had 
soon left him out of range. 

“ The bridge across the river here is in two parts. The 
western end is a common bridge, such as one sees on railroads 
and turnpikes, over small streams, with the exception that this 
was covered. An island in the middle of the river is the 
eastern terminus of this part of the bridge. Thence to the 
eastern shore of the river is a fine structure, with a draw for 
the accommodation of the boats which ply thus far above the 
muscle shoals. In their haste the rebels did not fire the west¬ 
ern part of the bridges, but by the time we had reached the 
town and river the drawbridge was in flames. There was 
great danger that the western half of the bridge would burn, 
and it was hazardous attempting to send men to the island for 
the purpose of saving it. A piece of artillery on the further 
shore could rake the whole building. General Mitchell called 
for volunteers to save the bridge by going to the island. ‘ Who 
of you will volunteer ?’ he cried. A Sergeant of the 83d Ohio 
sprung forward and entered the bridge. ‘ That’s my man !’ 
cried General Mitchell. At his heels went another, and 
another, and still another, till the volunteers were as plenty 
as they were at the President’s call a'year and fourteen day's 
ago. The bridge was saved. The rebels did not fire on the 
party, and we did not lose a .man.” 

THE CAVALRY SURPRISE. 

“ In the mean time, ‘ about face’ had a portion of the brigade 
formed, with the artillery looking to what was, a moment be¬ 
fore, our rear. As was anticipated, the rebels, whom we had 
flanked two miles to the rear, hearing the artillery, conceived 
what our movement had been, and came hastily down the 


60 


BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING. 


railroad. The cavalry was in the van, and dashed forward. 
In all probability they conceived us to be their friends. We 
occupied the exact position in which the rebels had been but 
a few minutes previously. Our pieces bore upon them, but 
did not open until they were so close that canister could 
prove effective. They came dashing toward us in fine style, 
and did not perceive that they had made a mistake until they 
were within three hundred yards of us. They were in an 
open wheat-field. One by one they halted, huddling together, 
and looking for all the world like a herd of frightened deer, 
undecided whether to fly or not. At this moment, General 
Mitchell ordered Captain Loomis to give them canister, and 
they waited until they got it, but no longer. The whole force 
fled in every direction. Such a stampede I never saw. Rider¬ 
less horses screaming with pain, unhorsed but unhurt cavalry 
men, in one indiscriminate stampede, broke for woods, hills, 
valleys, and every other kind of shelter. Two cavalry com¬ 
panies were started in pursuit, and up to the time I write 
prisoners are being brought in by squads. The rebel infantry 
regiment, soon learning the fate of their companions, fled to the 
woods, and are scattered in every direction.” 

Mitchell’s resources. 

This fine movement gave Mitchell a clear field, particularly 
as the advance of Pope’s division from Hamburg toward 
Corinth soon occupied alb of Beauregard’s attention on his 
right. His extraordinary fertility of invention, his tireless 
energy and exhaustless patience, added to a military talent of 
the highest order, have rendered Mitchell’s name one of the 
most honored among those whose services have contributed 
to the success of the Union cause. An incident or two will 
not be out of place here as illustrative of the qualities to 
which we have referred. The correspondent last quoted from 
said :— 

“ When we reached the stream, over which the bridge was 
to be built, on Sunday—Muddy creek, as it is called—we 
found that the back-water had flooded it until it was three 
hundred feet wide, and at least twenty feet deep. How to 
cross it was the question; and when put to General Mitchell, 
he replied ‘ Oh, I have a bridge in the cars.’ A road was 


Mitchell’s resources. 


61 


quickly made to the edge of the stream, and down this was 
rolled a pontoon bridge—that is, the men unloaded and rolled 
down the bank sixty-six bales of cotton. . They were placed 
in the stream, two wide, and guy ropes stretched from tree to 
tree through the water. Rails were run through the ropes of 
the bales, and thus bound them together. Then planks were 
laid from one bale to another, placed as the boats for pontoon 
bridges are placed, and the bridge was complete. General 
Mitchell stated that he had calculated the buoyancy of a bale 
of cotton, and discovered it to be four hundred and eighty-six 
pounds. Some idlers who knew their weight added that of 
four of themselves together, five hundred and three pounds, 
and stepped on a single bale on the water. It sunk to within 
an inch of being submerged, and proved the calculation of 
General Mitchell to be correct. 

“ On the march from the point at which we left the rail¬ 
road, General Mitchell was always in the rear. On reaching 
the road leading to Bridgeport, he asked of a stranger what 
road it was. ‘ To Bridgeport,’ said the man. ‘ Can you guide 
us ?’ asked General Mitchell. ‘ Oh, you can not travel it,’ said 
the man, ‘ for a bridge is burned and the timber fallen in.’ 

‘ Show me the route,’said the General. The man refused. 

‘ Take him prisoner.’ A half-dozen cavalrymen had him in 
an instant. ‘March him along!’ and away they went far 
ahead of the party. Directly, we saw the whole party return¬ 
ing. General Mitchell brought the column to a halt and they 
closed up. The men were ordered, not to * bear each a bough,’ 
but each one carried a rail, and, demolishing fences, they 
threw them into the bridge on the works of the old structure, 
and passed over it. Imagine three thousand men, each bear¬ 
ing a musket on one shoulder and a rail on the other. 

“At another place, miry and muddy, ye found General 
Mitchell, with his coat off, engaged with his body guard in 
completing a similar bridge, and the men passed over dryshod, 
as were Moses’ men crossing the Red Sea.” 

The loss of Bridgeport Vas a great blow to the rebels, 
heralding, as it did, the fall of Chattanooga, and the complete 
retention of the Tennessee. The Macon Telegraph and other 
Southern journals heaped imprecations on the hasty flight of 
their troops before Mitchell’s quick-footed legion. The 


62 


BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING. 


Telegraph confessed that, by the loss of Bridgeport, “ the most 
important gateway to our State was opened to the enemy, 
and the possession of all our rich mines of deposits of coal, 
iron and saltpeter are placed in imminent danger.” 


SUCCEEDING MOVEMENTS OF THE FEDERAL ARMY. 

GENERAL HALLECK IN SUPREME COMMAND. 

shekman’s pursuit. 

Sherman was after the enemy early on the morning of 
April 8tli. Of his report of the pursuit and reconnoisance he 
said: 

“ With the cavalry placed at my command, and two 
brigades of my fatigued troops, I went this morning out on 
the Corinth road. The abandoned camps of the enemy lined 
the road, with hospital flags for their protection. At all of 
these we found more or less wounded and dead. At the 
forks of the road I found the head of General Wool’s division. 
At that point I ordered cavalry to examine both roads, and 
found the enemy’s cavalry. Colonel Dickey,"of the Illinois 
cavalry, asked for reinforcements. I ordered General Wool 
to advance the head of his column cautiously on the left-hand 
road, while I conducted the head of the third brigade of the 
fifth division up the right-hand road. About half a mile from 
the forks was a clear field, through which the road passed, 
and immediately beyond it a space- of tw T o hundred yards of 
fallen timber, and beyond that an extensive camp of the 
enemy’s cavalry could be seen. After a reconnoissance, I 
ordered the two advance companies of the Ohio 77th, Colonel 
Hildebrand, to deploy as skirmishers, and the regiment itself 
to move forward into line within intervals of one hundred 
yards. In this order I advanced cautiously until the skir¬ 
mishers were engaged. Taking it for granted that this dis¬ 
position would clear the camp, I held Colonel Dickey’s 40th 
Illinois cavalry ready to charge, The enemy’s cavalry came 
down boldly to the charge, breaking through the line of skir¬ 
mishers, when the regiment of infantry, without cause, broke, 



sherman’s pursuit. 


63 


threw away tlieir guns and fled. The ground was admirably 
adapted to a defense of infantry against cavalry, it being miry 
and covered with fallen timber. As the regiment of infantry 
broke, Colonel Dickey’s cavalry began to charge with their 
carbines, and fell into disorder. I instantly sent orders to the 
rear for the brigade to form in linfe of battle, which was 
promptly executed. The broken infantry and cavalry rallied 
on this line, and, as the enemy^s cavalry came up to it, our 
cavalry in turn charged and drove them from the field. # I 
tlien advanced the entire brigade upon the same ground, and 
sent Colonel Dickey’s cavalry a mile further on the road. On 
examining the ground which had been occupied by the 77th 
Ohio, we found fifteen dead and about twenty-five wounded. 
I sent for wagons, and had all the wounded carried back to the 
camp, and the dead buried. I also ordered the whole camp 
to be destroyed. Here we found much ammunition for field- 
pieces, which was destroyed; also two caissons, and a general 
hospital, with about two hundred and eighty Confederates 
wounded and about fifty of our own troops. Hot having the 
means of bringing them off, Colonel Dickey, by my order, took 
a surrender, signed by the medical director, Lyle, and all the 
attending surgeons, and a pledge to report themselves to you 
as prisoners of war, and also another pledge that our wounded’ 
would be carefully attended to, and surrendered to us to-mor¬ 
row, as soon as ambulances could go out.” 

He further stated, in regard to the enemy’s retreat: 

“ The roads are very bad, and are strewn with abandoned 
wagons, ambulances and limber-boxes. The enemy has suc¬ 
ceeded in carrying off the guns, but has crippled his batteries 
by abandoning the hind limber-boxes of at 'least twenty‘guns. 
I am satisfied that the enemy’s infantry and cavalry passed 
Lick creek this morning, traveling all last night, and that he 
left behind all his cavalry, which has protected his retreat. 
But the signs of confusion and disorder mark the whole 
road.”* 

Sherman returned to camp late in the. evening. The 

* An amusing but striking comment on the light in which the rebels 
regarded and published every reverse, is afforded in the announcements 
made by the rebel press of this skirmish. The Knoxville Register and 
other journals repeated: , ^ . .. 

“ The prisoners taken on Sunday were sent under guard toward Corinth. 
Buell sent a brigade of cavalry to attempt to rescue them; but a body of 


64 


BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING. 


check and consequent delay experienced at the fallen timber, 
and the wearied condition of his troops, rendered further 
advances impossible. 

Beauregard’s letter. 

Beauregard having “ retired,” sent in, by a flag of truce, 
April 9th, an explanation of his movements—reminding us of 
the story of the wife who would say scissors, and when put 
below water, so that she could not talk, made motions with 
her fingers indicating scissors. The document read : 

“ Head-quarters, Department of Mississippi, \ 
Monterey, April 8, 1862. j 

“ Sir —At the close of the conflict of yesterday, my forces, 
being exhausted by the extraordinary length of the time 
during which they were engaged with yours on that and the 
preceding day, and it being apparent that you had received, 
and were still receiving reinforcements, I felt it my duty to 
withdraw my troops from the immediate scene of the conflict. 
Under these circumstances, in accordance with the usages of 
war, I shall transmit this under a flag of truce, to ask permis¬ 
sion to send a mounted party to the battlefield of Shiloh, for 
the purpose of giving decent interment to my dead. Certain 
gentlemen wishing to avail themselves of this opportunity to 
remove the remains of their sons and friends, I must request 
for them the privilege of accompanying the burial-party; and 
in this connection I deem it proper to say I am asking what I 
have extended to your own countrymen under similar circum¬ 
stances. Respectfully, your obedient servant, 

“ P. G. T. Beauregard, 

General Commanding .” 

Grant’s reply was brief but courteous, stating that the dead 
of the field had already been buried, and therefore that the 
party accompanying the flag of truce would not be admitted 
within the lines. 

This ended the chapter of incidents of the Pittsburg Land¬ 
ing tragedy. 

Confederate cavalry and artillery from Corinth not only frustrated the 
movement, but also captured the whole of the brigade of Federal 
cavalry.” 

Sherman, doubtless, was not surprised to hear that he was in rebel 
bands, a prisoner. 


THE 


INVESTMENT OF CORINTH. 


Halleck arrived at the battle-ground in the latter part of 
the week to assume the field command in chief. The work 
of reorganization and disposition commenced immediately. 
Pope’s success at Island No. 10 placed his superb division— 
full twenty thousand strong—at Halleck’s disposal; and his 
brigade were soon en route by transports up the Tennessee. 
They took position at Hamburg, four miles above Pittsburg 
Landing, forming the extreme left of the Federal lines. 
Mitchell’s forces were too far to the east to constitute any 
part of the army proper, though his positions contributed 
materially to the investment of Corinth, which Halleck had 
determined upon. The condition of the enemy’s defenses 
and situation seemed to render an attack by approaches the 
only prudent mode of reaching the rebels’ stronghold and 
outlying defenses. 

REORGANIZATION OF THE CORPS D’ARMEE. 

Great changes were made in the reorganization. The 
divisions of Thomas and Crittenden were added to Grant’s 
corps d'armee. This left Buell but three divisions in his com¬ 
mand, and gave Grant eight. The reserve in Grant’s forces 
was constituted of the divisions of Lew. Wallace, Crittenden 
and McClernand—the command of the latter being conferred 
upon Brigadier-General John A. Logan. McClernand was 
placed in chief command of this reserve. General Thomas 
was placed in chief command of the remaining divisions of 
Grant’s forces, viz: Thomas’, now commanded by T. W. 
(“ Port Royal ”) Sherman; W. T. Sherman; Hurlbut; McKeen, 



66 


THE INVESTMENT OF CORINTH. 


formerly Prentiss’ division; and Davies, formerly W. H. L. 
Wallace’s division. 

In the allotment of field position, Grant’s forces constituted 
the right, Buell’s the center, and Pope’s the left. 

THE FIRST ADVANCE. 

The* first advance was ordered for April 29th, the entire 
army moving toward the common center, Corinth. Wallace 
held the extreme right. McClernand moved along the lower 
Corinth road to a point one and a half miles west of 
Monterey. Sherman struck direct for a hill commanding 
Monterey, and occupied it on the morning of the 30tli. A 
correspondent wrote: 

“ At an early hour, Sherman’s division was ordered to take 
the advance and march to the hill, opposite to and command¬ 
ing Monterey, the principal point of the hill called Pea Ridge. 
The order was promptly obeyed, and at midday his division 
■was in its camp. The last five miles of the march was along 
a belt of high land over a fine road. Over this road the great 
bulk of the rebel army moved before the attack on the 6th, 
and over the same road the main body retreated after Monday 
night’s defeat. Occasional houses, in small openings*at great 
distances, were the only evidences of cultivation. The few 
houses on the route had been used as hospitals for their 
wounded, and the yards about them were all filled with their 
graves. Everything indicated the haste of the retreat—gun- 
carriages, caissons, wheels, tents, and all the paraphernalia 
and machinery of war, broken or burned, strewed the whole 
line. The division of General Sherman is now (May 1st) en¬ 
camped two miles nearer Corinth than the point to which he 
pursued them on Tuesday. All the appearances of the route 
of the retreat indicate that, if our troops had pursued Beaure¬ 
gard on Monday afternoon, the defeat would have been com¬ 
plete. Closely followed as far as Lick creek, the enemy, 
which was panic-stricken to a great extent, and in very great 
disorder, would have been utterly unable to cross the marshy 
bottom of Lee creek, and ascend Pea Ridge with their artil¬ 
lery and heavy trains.” 

THE EXPEDITION TO PURDY. 

On the 30tli, Wallace dispatched a force to cut the Ohio 


RECONNOISSANCE TOWARD FARMINGTON. 


67 


and Mobile railroad at Bethel, south of Purdy—thus to sever 
the rebel communication to the North. Three battalions of 
cavalry and a brigade of infantry under command of Colonel 
Morgan L. Smith executed the commission. 

“ Near Purdy they found the rebels in considerable force 
in a piece of timber. Their orders were to destroy the road 
if possible, but not to engage a superior force. While the 
infantry and a detachment of cavalry engaged the enemy in 
the woods, entertaining and diverting his attention, Colonel 
Dickey, with two battalions of cavalry, moved in another 
direction to the railroad. They destroyed a bridge one hund¬ 
red and twenty feet in length. The destruction was com¬ 
plete. While the fire which consumed the timbers was pro¬ 
gressing, Colonel Dickey heard a train approaching from the 
direction of Corinth. Putting his men in ambush, he soon 
captured a locomotive, with a conductor, engineer and four 
other persons, prisoners. He found an engineer among the 
cavalry, who ran the locomotive about half a mile back from 
the bridge, fired the engine up to its utmost steam capacity 
and started it for the bridge. At a fearful speed the unfor¬ 
tunate engine plunged into the ravine, where her dis¬ 
jected members are piled in hopeless destruction. From the 
prisoners it was ascertained that three trains heavily 
loaded with troops were expected hourly, and the engine 
had been sent to help them through. These troops had 
been sent from Memphis, by way of Humboldt and Jackson, 
the direct road being entirely occupied with transportation 
to Corinth*” 

THE FIGHTS ON THE FARMINGTON ROAD. 

Buell struck direct from the Landing toward Corinth. 
Pope’s division pushed forward from Hamburg toward Corinth, 
reaching a point midway after three days of terrible marching 
through a swamp and over heavy hills. On the 3d of May, 
a reconnoissance in force toward Farmington was ordered. 
The extraordinary nature of the country—whose fastnesses 
and silences were, evidently, never before penetrated by an 
engineer’s eye—constrained Halleck to feel his way. Each 
day’s advance was only made after reconnoissance and the 
location of every bearing. The reconnoissance toward 


68 


THE INVESTMENT OF CORINTH. 


Farmington was an important and somewhat hazardous enter ■ 
prise, and was, therefore, ordered in force. 

Generals Paine and Palmer were detailed for the work, and 
at ten o’clock on the 3d instant were on the march. The 
regiments selected were the 10th, 16th, 22d, 27th, 42d and 
51st Illinois volunteers, 10th and 16th Michigan volunteers, 
Yates’ sharpshooters, Illinois; Houghtailing’s (Illinois) and 
Hezcock’s (Ohio) batteries, and the 2d Michigan cavalry. The 
column proceeded out on the Farmington road about five 
miles, when it encountered the enemy’s pickets (cavalry). A 
sharp skirmish followed, by which the enemy lost eight killed 
and as many wounded (taken prisoners). A second skirmish 
soon followed, as the Federal forces advanced through the 
swamp. It was but a momentary affair, however, for the 
sharpshooters soon dislodged the rebels from their lodges 
behind trees and thickets. Colonel Bissell’s corps of sappers 
and miners—of New Madrid canal celebrity—piloted the way, 
building bridges over water-courses and removing obstructions 
which the enemy had thrown in the way. 

At three p. m., the vanguard emerged from the swamp. A 
correspondent wrote: 

“ Now commenced the fight in earnest. The enemy had 
posted four pieces of .artillery upon an elevation of perhaps 
twenty feet in height, completely commanding the road, and 
making it utterly impossible for our troops to gain the open 
field, except by a detour to the right or left. Then Colonel 
Morgan’s (10th) regiment were sent to the right, with the 
Yates’ sharpshooters to the left, who soon poured such a fire 
of musketry upon the ranks, as sent the gunners from their 
pieces in confusion, and caused the infantry to rush pell-mell 
over the hill to their second position, where they formed in 
line of battle. Then the rebel postillions galloped up to the 
guns, limbered them up, and dragged them away, under a 
most galling fire from our infantry. 

“ Their second position was taken upon the crest of a hill, 
to the right of the Farmington road, just in advance of a piece 
of dense wood, being flanked upon the left by an old cotton- 
gin and press, and on the right and in front by a deep, though 
not impassable ravine. It now became apparent that tlio 
enemy were determined only to treat us to a cannon fight; 


OCCUPATION OP FARMINGTON. 


69 


and had taken such a position as to preclude us from advanc¬ 
ing upon them, except by a circuitous route of some two 
miles, which, being through swamp and brush, was impassable. 
So Houghtailing’s guns were brought forward, and emerging 
from the timber at a double-quick, went into battle upon the 
same ground just vacated by the rebels. How, for half an 
hour, a terrible artillery duel was kept up, the enemy showing 
a spirit of chivalry worthy a better cause, two regiments of 
infantry in the mean time going around and gaining a position 
commanding their left flank, and opening upon them with 
musketry, at a distance of only about three hundred yards, 
such a fire as sent their butternut-colored ranks into the tall 
timber as if the old Hick or some other justice of the peace 
was after them. Finding themselves deserted by their infantry 
support, the rebel artillerists changed their position to a point 
about a half mile further, on. Their new position was just 
to the right of the road leading from Farmington to Corinth, 
upon the brow of a hill, and about three-eights of a mile north 
of the village of Farmington. Houghtailing’s battery imme¬ 
diately moved up t6 the enemy’s second position at the cotton- 
gin, while Hezcock’s battery proceeded to an open field in 
front of Farmington and to the enemy’s right, from which 
two points our fire soon became too terrible for humanity to 
endure, and the rebels fled in confusion in the direction of 
Corinth. Then our infantry were drawn up at the town and 
along the roads, while the cavalry were sent on after the flying 
foe.” 

The position thus gained was held, and soon Pope was 
installed at a point of great strategic and active importance— 
under the very nose of the rebel lines around their main 
defenses. Had he been permitted his own way, he would 
have, with Buell’s help, walked straight into Corinth. Future 
events proved that he could have done so, though at a fearful 
sacrifice. 


THE ENSEMBLE. 

The forward movement was on the line of a circle section, 
whose center was Corinth. Its ensemble was thus character¬ 
ized on the ground: “ From our extreme right to our extreme 
left, it is about seven miles. For that entire distance there is 


70 


THE INVESTMENT OF CORINTH. 


an almost continuous succession of encampments of infantry, 
cavalry and artillery. These innumerable canvas villages, 
with their swarms of men and animals, representing together 
a population equal to that of a first-class city—the thousands 
of army wagons that cover every road from the river—the 
martial music, the singing and shouting of the soldiery, the 
neighing of horses and the bra}^ing of mules—all Resounding 
from every hill and favine—form an ensemble , the • like of 
which will probably never be seen again west of the Alle¬ 
ghany Mountains.” 

THE FORCE. 

The divisions of Sigel, Asboth and Jeff. C. Davis, from 
Missouri, were added to the strength of Halleck’s forces the 
middle of May—thus giving him an army of about one hund¬ 
red and twenty thousand men, nominally—probably about 
one hundred thousand strong—an army large and “ plucky” 
enough to have driven Beauregard into the Gulf of Mexico, 
if fighting was all that was necessary to accomplish that 
desirable end. Halleck’s strategy, however, seemed to aim 
at an end rather by compression than by bagger-thrusts. His 
tremendous train of artillery was, evidently, to do the chief 
part of the fighting. No army ever took the field with a finer 
complement of guns. Had the country between the Tennessee 
river and Corinth been else than an unimaginably horrible 
slough for several miles of the way, the probabilities are, the 
artillery would have brought matters, to a crisis by May 10th. 

ATTACK ON POPE’S ADVANCE. 

The occupation - of Farmington and vicinity by Pope’s 
advanced grand guard, gave the rebels so much annoyance, 
that they came out in overwhelming force on the 9th (May) 
to drive him back, and, possibly, to flank the Federal lines. 
The enemy’s forces numbered about thirty-five thousand, 
under command of Bragg, Price, Yan Dorn and Ruggles. 
Pope had been particularly enjoined not to engage the enemy 
in strength; and these orders were repeated by telegraph, 
when Halleck was informed of the enemy’s assault on the 
brigade at Farmington. 

A correspondent of the Commercial Gazette wrote: “ Op¬ 
posed to the rebels was simply our grand guard, composed 


ATTACK UPON POPE AT FARMINGTON. 


71 


of a single brigade. They threw forward five or six of their 
regiments, with artillery, to engage our brigade, holding their 
immense reserve in readiness to attack our anticipated rein¬ 
forcements. But no reinforcements came, and for five hours 
that single brigade kept up the fierce contest, and held its 
ground. At last the rebels pressed forward too heavily for 
them, and General Pope, forbidden to reinforce, was compelled 
to withdraw the gallant guard from the unequal contest. 

“ During the progress of the fight, at the regular hour, the 
guard had been relieved, Plummer’s brigade relieving Palmer’s. 
Both were composed of Illinois, Michigan and Missouri troops 
exclusively. At the close, our loss was found to be ten killed 
and about a hundred wounded, many of the latter very 
slightly. The rebel loss was known to be at least as great. 

“ The rebels, puzzled by the stubborn fighting and sudden 
retreat of the single brigade, and by the unaccountable non- 
appearance of reinforcements, made no pursuit, and before 
nightfall retired to their intrenchments.” 

This sally by the rebels led Pope to suspect, for the mo¬ 
ment, that it really was an attack to cover an evacuation. 
Pope therefore ordered the men to be alert—to have two days’ 
cooked rations in their haversacks. Farmington was not 
reoccupied by the Federals until the 17tli, when a command¬ 
ing position for defense was chosen, and all night long heavy 
details from the entire division were made for the work of 
erecting batteries and mounting siege guns. Pope was thus 
in the nearest proximity to the enemy, and momentarily 
expected the assault which his position seemed to covet. 
Why he was not attacked is a mystery only explainable on 
the supposition that the rebel commander either distrusted 
his men or had decided to evacuate. 

PARALLEL THE FIRST. 

How “ the approach ” was made we are informed by the 
dozen or more newspaper men who were with the army up 
to the hour when Halleck promulgated the order granting the 
reportorial corps unlimited leave of absence. One of them 
said: 

“ When the first works were thrown up, the right of Gen¬ 
eral Thomas—the right wing—rested on the Purdy road, and 


72 


THE INVESTMENT OF COEINTH. 


his left on tlie main Corinth road. Buell’s right was on the 
main Corinth road, and extended to Pope’s right—the latter’s 
left resting one mile from Farmington, on the Farmington and 
Hamburg road, a continuation of the Corinth and Farming- 
ton road. The advance was made, and the position being 
found secure and tenable, the work of intrenching began. 
With their arms stacked near and the artillery in position, the 
whole line went to work and had soon completed its labors. 
One who has not watched the process can have no idea how 
soon a regiment will intrench its entire line. The great sap¬ 
ling trees are felled with a rapidity that is astonishing, and 
practiced woodsmen ply the ax upon the fallen trees, cutting 
them to the correct length, as busy hands place the timbers in 
their position. The brushwood is piled upon it, and the 
spades and shovels quickly bury the mass in the clay and soil 
thrown up from the rear. This is the side that Pillow was 
accused of ditching- upon; but I imagine the renegade old 
rascal knew what he was about. You have no idea how 
strong these works are after they have had a few hours to 
settle. A six-pounder would* hardly penetrate a foot, if dis¬ 
charged at only half a mile distance. At the right of each 
brigade (except that on the extreme right), a battery of artil¬ 
lery was to be looked to, and the infantry regiments on either 
side of them had the labor to perform. In some instances 
mere breast-works were thrown up, but in most cases neat, 
strong and extensive demi-lune forts have been constructed 
with embrasures for the six pieces. This gives an enfilading 
fire which the rebels will find quite dangerous should they 
conclude to attack. Siege guns were also put in position, the 
telegraph connected the different head-quarters, the camps 
were moved forward, and peaceable possession taken of the 
new position. Peaceable! I was looking for “ Agate,” of 
the Cincinnati Gazette , in the camp of the Fourteenth Ohio, 
when a shell took off the top of Colonel Steadman’s tent, and 
exploded fifty feet from us. You could have heard the Col¬ 
onel order the boys to ‘ fall in ’ had you been at Corinth.” 

This parallel was struck after several regular advances. 
May 20th a heavy reconnoissance was made, in order to locate 
the enemy’s exact positions. This done, the entire line 
deflected a little to the left until within three miles of Corinth 


THE SECOND PARALLEL. 


73 


when the first line of intrenchments was struck—one and a 
half miles from the enemy’s outer works, and fifteen from 
Pittsburg Landing. 


PARALLEL THE SECOND. 

The same writer said : 

“ But we rested in peace only a day. Our Generals disturbed 
us this time, and another advance was ordered. We had 
been encamped two regiments deep behind the first parallel— 
that is, a brigade formed in camp in a square of four regiments. 
But when we rested behind the second works, I found we had 
advanced a quarter of a mile futher forward, more than that 
distance to the right, and now all fronted the line. General 
Sherman’s works .extended beyond the Purdy road. General 
Buell’s right, General Wood’s division, crossed the main 
Corinth road, but Pope’s left rested where it had been before, 
save that it was a mile in the advance. By this you will un¬ 
derstand that the line was lengthened—lengthened the length 
of a division, about half a mile. Do you see what it threatened ? 
The left flank of the rebels. Do you see what it exposed ? 
Our own right flank. And so forward moved the right reserve 
two divisions, and protected it. 

“ I rode along the line yesterday, despite of provost marshals 
and my doctor. The works are of the same character as those 
described under the preceding head—they are built in the 
same manner, is what I mean. It must not be supposed that 
they are built on scientific plans, from drawings by ‘ topogs 
but each Colonel of a regiment throws up his breastwork to 
suit the ground in his front—thus the line is often broken and 
unconnected. On my trip along the line I got into Nelson’s 
division, and found my eye gladdened by an open field— 
almost a prairie. But in the midst of it an unaccountable 
growth of small timber caught my eye, and I rode toward it; 
approached and passed it. Six terrible black thirty-twos were 
behind it. ‘ A masked battery of siege guns, ’ said the guard, 
in reply to an inquiry. A little further on I found four other 
guns, and near by, completely hidden, an entire regimental- 
camp. Crossing, afterward, to the right, I found similar 
masks, behind one of which I found ‘ Lady Halleck,’ ‘ Lady 
Buell,’ ‘ Old Abe,’ and some other thirty-two pounders, 


74 


THE INVESTMENT OF CORINTH. 


standing stately and silently in a heavy demi-lune, and look¬ 
ing grim on Corinth. There are hundreds of other matters 
of interest along the line which I can not give at this time. 
The division and brigade organizations of the three grand 
corps have been sent you for use at the proper time.” 

PARALLEL THE THIRD. 

Of the third and last parallel he wrote, under date of May 
27th : 

“ A third parallel of works is approaching completion in 
our front, three or four hundred yards nearer the enemy. 
Going along the line to-day, I found batteries being built in 
the advance of our works and within thirteen hundred yards 
of the enemy, in which siege guns were being planted. These 
preparations are of the most formidable character, and ought 
to reduce the rebels’ works in a short time and cause an evac¬ 
uation, if one has not already taken place. In front of Port 
Royal Sherman’s division I found Robert McCook’s brigade 
engaged in throwing up protection for four tliirty-two-pounders 
which looked directly upon the rebel center. Similar batter¬ 
ies approach completion, and I hope to hear the opening of 
the cannonading to-morrow. Whether the enemy be there 
or not, the bombardment will not be long. The siege will 
quickly terminate when once the preparations are ended, and 
the conflict opens with the vigor which those preparations 
promise.” 

INCIDENTS. 

During these several progresses and processes, numerous 
skirmishes transpired in which both rebels and Federals 
showed hardihood and bravery enough to immortalize any 
European people, but added nothing to the repute of Amer¬ 
ican valor because it was expected and required, and a matter 
of course. Some of them were thus referred to by one of the 
correspondents: 

“ Each day, in the early light of morning, the pickets open 
with sharp-shooters’ practice, and all day, all along the line, 
is heard the sharp crack of the squirrel rifle, the louder report 
of the Enfield, and the duller croak of the common rifle-mus* 
ket, resounding along the line and re-echoed by the rebels. 


AN" INTERESTING EPISODE. 


75 


It would be impossible for me to state in detail the numerous 
adventures along the line of the outposts. I have memoran¬ 
dums in full of how a Lieutenant Hope, 4th Kentucky, who, 
while under arrest, has been scouting around the camp, and 
who, while General Sherman was deciding whether to bom¬ 
bard a certain house in which a rebel company had fortified 
themselves, enlisted two other officers who were in the same 
suspended state as himself, and succeeded in storming the 
house and dislodging the rebels; memorandums of sharp¬ 
shooters’ practice, storming-parties who have made descents 
on cotton-gins and spring-houses situated in the disputed ter¬ 
ritory ; another memorandum calls to mind, the rapid manner 
in which Colonel Steadman, of the 14th Ohio, insisted on 
assembling his regiment when a rebel shell took off the top 
of his Sibley. 

“ Saturday, the 17th, General Hurlbut was taking his posi¬ 
tion on the right when he came upon a force of infantry and 
artillery, with whom he immediately became engaged. The 
purpose was to throw up the intrenchments on a line with 
those jvhicli were being made on the left. He advanced his 
artillery, with infantry at supporting distance, and prepared 
to shell out the rebels who had driven back his advancing 
skirmishers. The rebels replied with vigor, and the shelling 
continued for an hour and a half. The men, who had been 
at Donelson and at Pittsburg Landing, looked upon the shell¬ 
ing as a matter of amusement and laughed at it. The artil¬ 
lery of both parties was admirably handled, and that of the 
rebels did considerable execution. On the left a couple of 
regiments of infantry became engaged, and added to the in¬ 
terest of the engagement. After fighting for an hour and a 
half the rebels withdrew, leaving us in possession of the posi¬ 
tion and with twenty-five killed and one hundred and fifty 
wounded of our men on our hands.” 

AN INTERESTING EPISODE. . 

One of those conferences of friend and foe t wliich it is at 
once painful and pleasurable to contemplate occurred on the 
18th. It illustrated the peculiar relations of the belligerents 
so clearly that we may report the narrative of its incidents as 
given by the Cincinnati Gazette representative—particularly as 


76 


THE INVESTMENT OF CORINTH. 


it introduces us to Hon. Jacob Thompson, Mr. Buchanan’s 
Secretary of the Interior: 

“ McCook’s division of Buell’s army, and Port Royal Sher¬ 
man’s, of Thomas’s army, with some other troops, were 
under orders to make a reconnoissance in force ‘ beyond Seven 
Mile Creek toward the enemy’s lines’ yesterday morning— 
the movement to begin at half-past eight o’clock. Learning 
the direction they were to take, I resolved to avoid the 
crowding in the roads while the troops were marching, by 
riding on ahead of them to our outer pickets, and there 
awaiting their approach. I soon had reason to rejoice at the 
lucky determination. 

“ Galloping out on the old Corinth road leading past Hal- 
leck’s new head-quarters, I soon left the camps and the forming 
regiments to the rear. Presently the grand guard came in 
sight, then smaller outposts of pickets, and finally, within a 
mile and a half of the camps, came the last picket line. 
Looking down the next turn of the road, beyond the two or 
three blu$ coats on duty, I noticed a group of officers, among 
whom were two conspicuous for the gaudy uniform of the Con¬ 
federate army, while the presence, just beyond, of a tall, gray- 
coated private, bearing a white flag, explained the phenomenon. 

“Riding up, I w T as introduced to Colonel Thompson, of 
General Beauregard’s staff. ' The cordial warmth of manner, 
the fine head, expressive features, and grizzly beard and 
mustache were not unfamiliar in Washington, even so late as 
the beginning of the present year. It was Mr. Buchanan’s 
well-known Secretary of the Interior, the Hon. Jacob M. 
Thompson, Mississippi millionaire, ex-Congressman from the 
very district on whose soil he now stood under a flag of truce, 
and a man still entitled to Northern respect, as the only one 
of the resigning secessionists who left Mr. Buchanan’s Cabinet 
without the stain of dishonor upon his name. 

“ The Colonel had been sent in by General Beauregard to 
turn over to General Halleck some sixty-two prisoners recently 
captured near# Fort Heiman, Tennessee (and released under 
parole not to bear arms against the Confederacy until regu¬ 
larly exchanged), and to see what General Halleck would 
agree to in the way of a general system of exchanges. He 
was escorted by Beauregard’s body-guard, a fine body of 


INTERVIEW WITH COLONEL THOMPSON. 


77 


cavalry from New Orleans under tlie command of Captain 
Dreux. It might be ungenerous, after the very pleasant 
interview we had, but our officers could not repress their 
suspicions that there was another object besides the release of 
sixty-two prisoners, and that they were desirous of learning 
precisely where our lines were, and what more they' could, 
by penetrating them as far as possible. 

“ They had, of course, been stopped beyond our outer 
pickets, and an hour or more of pleasant talk filled up the 
interval, while Beauregard’s letter to Halleck, and Thompson’s 
request for a personal interview, were taken back to head¬ 
quarters, and answers awaited. Both the Colonel and Captain 
Dreux made themselves as agreeable as possible, and there 
was a sort of tacit understanding by which both sides avoided 
unpleasant subjects. 

“ They were profuse in their expressions of regret that the 
war should have broken out at all, and particularly bitter 
against the abolitionists. * We don’t like to fight you Northern 
men,’ said Colonel Thompson; ‘it grieves us to think of 
having to meet men we like, as we do you, in battle-; we 
want to fight your abolitionists. I know,’ he continued, ‘ you 
have very few of them here; but if you could collect a regi¬ 
ment of them, I’d like to pick out a regiment of our fire-eaters, 
and have them brought out face to face in an open field. I’d 
be willing to abide by the result, go which way it would. 
But we don’t like to have to fight you.’ 

“ ‘ I do regret one thing,’ he said, again addressing himself 
to the officer commanding the pickets of the 17th Ohio, Colonel 
Connell, whom he had known as an old-line Democrat, ‘ and 
that is, that the old Democratic party is permitting itself to be 
used by the abolitionists, and is now absolutely under their con¬ 
trol.’ Colonel Connell disputed the proposition. ‘ You’ll see 
liow it will be when the war is over,’ said Colonel Thompson. 
‘Even now you can see how Congress is drifting, and the 
current is sure to set stronger and stronger in the same direc¬ 
tion.’ ‘But you might have checked the current if your 
members had stayed in Congress,’ suggested a bystander. 

‘ Oh, no; we might, perhaps, have pushed off the evil day a 
little further, but that was all. Abolitionism is going to 
sweep every thing before it, just as we foresaw it would. It 


78 THE INVESTMENT OF COKINTH. \ 

was just as well to meet the matter now as any time, but we 
did not expect you Northern Democrats to help swell the 
abolition power.’ 

“ ‘ One of the saddest of all the sad things in this war,’ said 

the Colonel, again, ‘ is in cases like this : Lieutenant-is 

in our army. He has two brothers with you. One of them, 
some months ago, was severely wounded at Mill Spring, 
where he fought too, and he has never yet been able to learn 
whether he died or not. Can any of you tell me ?’ Unfortu¬ 
nately, none of us knew, and so the faniily suspense remains 
unbroken, notwithstanding the Colonel’s kindly effort. 

“ At last the officer returned from Halleck’s head-quarters. 
The General could not consent that Colonel Thompson should 
come within our lines as requested, and he would be willing 
to reciprocate the release of prisoners by returning them an 
equal number in exchange. Colonel Thompson was evidently 
chagrined at being allowed to go no further, but he was too 
politic as well as too gentlemanly to manifest any open dissat¬ 
isfaction. He must complain of the United States, however, 
for its course with reference to the exchange of prisoners. It 
had added’needless barbarism to the war, and its practice was 
in direct violation of the usages of civilized nations. Certainly 
the South had done enough fighting to entitle herself to treat¬ 
ment as at least a fighting power. There was too much good 
sense in this to give any ground for dispute, and so the 
interview ended, as it had begun, in the most perfegt har¬ 
mony. 

“ The prisoners—a sorry-looking set—were marched forward, 
the rebel cavalry turned them over to our officers, a descriptive 
roll was produced, and sixty-two released prisoners answered 
very joyfully as their names were called. Colonel Connell 
inquired whether they wished them sworn not to bear arms 
against the Confederacy till regularly exchanged. ‘ Oh, we’ve 
attended to that already,’ said Colonel Thompson, ‘ and I 
guess it’s pretty well impressed on their minds.’ Some ale 
was produced, and rebels and Unionists alike drank out of the 
same tin cup. ‘ If we could only take you up to our camp, 
we could give you something better,’ said one of our officers. 
‘ Oh, never mind,’ replied a rebel, with a quizzical look, ‘ we 
expect to entertain all you gentlemen at our quarters pretty 



capture of russell’s house. 


79 


soon, and depend on it, this party shall have- the best old 
brandy Corinth affords. 

“ The leave-taking grew protracted. Each one had some¬ 
thing to say or ask. Hands were shaken with marked 
cordiality all around. ‘ May we meet again under pleasanter 
auspices,’ said Colonel Thompson, and there wasn’t one of the 
party that did not fervently echo the wish, and inwardly hope 
that he might some day have an opportunity to do a kindness 
to this officer of Beauregard’s staff. But at last there was no 
excuse for waiting longer. Mounting their horses, the Colonel 
and Captain waved a final adieu, and with uncovered heads 
rode on ; the body-guard wheeled in behind them, every man 
lifting his cap as he passed our officers, and so, under the 
white flag, the courteous rebels left us. May our balls and 
shells deal lightly with that party in the coming day! 

capture of russell’s house. 

A brilliant affair occurred on tlie 17th, under direction of 
General W. T. Sherman, in the capture of a commanding 
position named Bussell’s House, from the residence on it. 
Hurlbut put in motion two regiments and a battery, at three 
p. m. General Denver, with an equal force, moved around 
to the right, so as to strike the point on the left when General 
Smith’s brigade had opened the fight in front. Smith’s 
(Morgan L.) brigade, wdtli Bouton’s artillery, took the main 
road ancl passed direct to the house. The engagement soon 
began. Smith pressed the enemy sharply. Bouton’s artillery 
riddled the house and out-buildings, and the rebels retired 
precipitately. The head of Denver’s and Hurlbut’s columns 
came in sight in time to see the enemy run. Smith’s loss was 
ten killed and thirty-one wounded, from the 8th Missouri and 
the 55th Illinois regiments. The rebels left twelve dead on 
the field, and bore away several dead, supposed to be officers. 

THE END COMING. 

The several approaches had prepared the Federal army for 
the final assault, which was arranged for May 28tli. During 
the night, Kelson had pushed across the swamp, over Seven 
Mile creek, intervening between the center and the enemy’s 
works. The swamp was bridged in corduroy under the very 


80 THE INVESTMENT OF CORINTH. 

\ 

guns of the fortifications beyond. To the line of this creek, 
the whole advance was made on the 28th, and a general 
reconnoissance inaugurated. That on the left, by Pope, 
brought on an engagement, since, as it afterward appeared, 
the left menaced the enemy’s line of retreat in evacuation—at 
that moment going on. 

THE LINES ENGAGED. 

Of Pope’s fight, a wwiter for the New York Herald said: 

“ It was nine o’clock on the morning of the 28tli, which 
was Wednesday, before Pope opened on the left and began 
the reconnoissance, which, it was soon evident, was general 
from the rapid firing in McKeon’s division, and further to the 
right in (Kentucky) Sherman’s. I had from the first antici¬ 
pated that the work would be on the right—that Thomas’ 
corps would have to do the labor, and I pushed from the right 
of Buell—the center—toward the right. I found myself, 
shortly after, in front of the division of Sherman (Port Royal), 
and concluded* that it would be wisdom to retire to his rear, 
ere he became engaged. I passed McKeon, who was march¬ 
ing forward in splendid style, in line of battle, unbroken 
except where his left brigade filed around a demi-curve in the 
third parallel, and again formed in a broad open field to the 
right of the house, which the topographical engineers have 
not dignified by a name. I fell in with a battery of artil¬ 
lery belonging to Major Cavender’s battalion, and saw some 
excellent practice at the tops of tall and distant beech and 
hickory trees. They told me the shells which were trimming 
the tops of the trees were falling in the works at Corinth, to 
which in silence I acquiesced. Sherman and Hurlbut were 
quiet. Infantry and artillery were advancing down the Purdy 
road, and the thousand and one roads which have been made 
in the past few days; but they had encountered no enemy as 
yet. Indeed, the right and center have had a comparatively 
easy time of it; but Pope, on the left, has suffered in his 
advance. The right and center encountered no enemy until 
they had reached the swamp and pushed through it toward 
the creek. Pope, on the contrary, met a determined resist¬ 
ance, and I found at night that his line was but little further 
advanced than the third parallel of the center and right. 


OPERATIONS OF THE RIGHT. 


81 


Operating in an open space of some -miles in extent, he has 
not been able to advance his lines as rapidly as did Buell and 
Thomas. But the engagement—if the skirmishing of the day 
can be called such—began when the right and center had 
reached the swamp, and while yet the left was trying to obtain 
the same position. There was no distinguishing any thing. 
Along the whole line—a hundred yards in my front—the fight 
was raging. You could hear the sharp reports and the shouts, 
the commands, the cheers, the loud laughter. But what more 
could be seen, save occasionally the white smoke rising from 
the leveled weapons which had just been discharged? The 
ambulances were being slowly filled. The wounded bodies 
were being brought from the swamps, and the surgeons would 
gather around, the subject. You could hear cries of pain, and 
curses, and groans, mingling with the wilder cries of the 
excited combatants, who were hidden in the woods that encir¬ 
cled them. This style of skirmishing was kept up during the 
whole day. The combatants on the right and center main¬ 
tained their original position, and Thomas and Buell biv¬ 
ouacked where they had fought—in the damp, miry swamps. 
The night was spent in preparations for an advance in the 
morning. Was it not plain that no force was at Corinth ? 

“ The resistance of the rebels to Pope’s advance was more 
stubborn, and the conflict during the day w r as more deter¬ 
mined, more exciting, and resulted in greater loss than per¬ 
haps in both the other corps. Not only was he opposed by 
infantry but artillery, and so exposed was his position, that 
the latter, I am told, has occasioned quite a heavy loss. The 
point of crossing of the creek was defended by a battery of 
rifled guns, which Pope had found exceedingly effective, and 
he -was content when night came to rest in the plain, and 
make his preparations for reducing the battery at early dawn 
of the following day. The troops of the three divisions biv¬ 
ouacked on the field', where they had stood mostly inactive 
the whole day, Hamilton’s left resting on the Farmington 
road.” 

OPERATIONS OF THE RIGHT. 

The position obtained at Russell’s House on the 17th, (see 
page 81), had been strongly intrenched as a base for the 


82 


TIIE INVESTMENT OF CORINTH. 


operations of Sherman’s (“ Kentucky” Sherman) division on 
the 28th. On that day he was ordered to advance and secure a 
log-house standing on a ridge, giving a near and commanding 
position. The place was then held by the enemy—supposed 
to be in strong force. Sherman, in his official report, said: 

“ The house referred to by General Hal leek was a double 
log-building standing on a high ridge on the upper or south¬ 
ern end of the large field before referred to as the one to 
which we had advanced our pickets. The enemy had taken 
out the chinks and removed the roof, making it an excellent 
block-house from which, with perfect security, he could annoy 
our pickets. The large field was perfectly overlooked by this 
house, as well as by the ridge along its southern line of fence, 
which was covered by a dense grove of heavy oaks and under¬ 
brush. The main Corinth road runs along the eastern fence, 
while the field itself, about three hundred yards wide by 
about five hundred yards long, extended far to the right into 
the low land of Phillip’s creek, so densely wooded as to be 
impassable to troops or artillery. On the eastern side of the 
field, the woods were more open. The enemy could be seen 
at all times in and about the house and the ridge beyond, 
and our pickets could not show themselves on our side of the 
field without attracting a shot.” 

THE LOG-HOUSE ASSAULT 

“ The problem was,” the report continues, “ to clear the 
house and ridge of the enemy with as little loss as possible. 
To accomplish this, I ordered General J. W. Denver, with his 
brigade (3d), and the Morton battery of four guns, to march in 
perfect silence from our lines at eight a. m., keeping well under 
cover as he approached the field ; General Morgan L. Smith’s 
brigade (1st), with Barrett’s and Waterhouse’s batteries, to 
move along the main road, keeping his force well masked in 
the woods to the left; Brigadier-General Yeatcli’s brigade to 
move from General Hurlbut’s lines through the woods on the 
left of and connecting with General Morgan L. Smith’s, and 
General John A. Logan’s brigade to move down to Bowie Hill 
Cut of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, and thence forward and 
to the left, so as to connect with General Denver’s brigade on 
the extreme right; all to march at eight a. m., with skirmishers 


THE LOG-HOUSE ASSAULT. 


83 


ers well to the front, to keep well concealed, and at a signal 
to rush quickly on to the ridge, thus avoiding, as much as 
possible, the danger of crossing the open field, exposed to the 
fire of a concealed enemy. It was impossible for me, before¬ 
hand, to ascertain the force of the enemy, and nothing is more 
embarrassing than to make dispositions against a concealed 
foe, occupying, as this was, a strong natural position. I then 
supposed and still think this position was held by a small 
brigade of the enemy. 

“ My preliminary arrangements having thus been made, two 
twenty-pound Parrott rifled guns of Silfversparre’s battery, 
under the immediate supervision of Major Taylor, chief of 
artillery, were moved silently through the forest to a point 
behind a hill, from the top of which could be seen the house 
and ground to be contested. The guns were unlimbered, 
loaded with shell and moved by hand to the crest. At the 
proper time I gave the order to Major Taylor to commence 
firing and demolish the house or render it decidedly uncom¬ 
fortable to its occupants. About a dozen shells, well directed, 
soon accomplished this; then designating a single shot of the 
twenty-pound Parrott gun of -Silfversparre as a signal for the 
brigades to advance, I waited till all were in position, and 
ordered the signal, when the troops dashed forward in fine 
style, crossed the field, drove the enemy across the ridge and 
field beyond, into another dense and seemingly impenetrable 
forest. The enemy was evidently surprised, and only killed 
two of our men and wounded nine. After we had reached 
the ridge, he opened on us with a two-gun battery on the 
right, and another from the front and left, doing my brigade 
but little harm, but killing three of General Yeatch’s men. 
With our artillery we soon silenced his, and by ten a. m. we 
were masters of the position. Generals Grant and Thomas 
were present during the affair and witnessed the movement, 
which was admirably executed, all the officers and men keep¬ 
ing their places like real soldiers.” 

ATTEMPT TO DISLODGE SnERMAN. 

The enemy, evidently annoyed at this unexpected repulse, 
sallied out in some force to regain the lost position, as it then 
appeared—though the attack was only a “ make believe,” to 


84 


THE INVESTMENT OF CORINTH. 


cover the evacuation of their stronghold, then progressing. 
In his report, Sherman detailed the particulars of the assault 
of the enemy by the dense woods in front, which so masked 
his operations as to render the fight a blind one on the part 
of the Federal brigades. The rebels were repulsed after a 
brisk fire, both of musketry and artillery. The new position 
won was nearer Corinth, and the work of intrenching went 
on during the night of the 28tli. On the morning of the 
29th, a line of defenses was constructed, which gave the 
Federals a powerful foothold within one thousand and three 
hundred yards of the enemy’s main works. 

THE END. 

Of the advance of the right into the enemy’s works, Sher¬ 
man gave the following spirited narration : 

“ I had then my whole division in a slightly curved line, 
facing south; my right resting on the Mobile and Ohio Rail¬ 
road, near a deep cut known as Bowie Hill Cut, and left 
resting on the main Corinth road, at the crest of the ridge* 
there connecting with General Hurlbut, who, in turn, on his 
left, connected with General Davies, and so on down the 
whole line to Its extremity. So near was the enemy, that 
we could hear the sound of his drums and sometimes of 
voices in command, and the railroad cars arriving and depart¬ 
ing at Corinth were easily distinguished. For some days and 
nights, cars had been arriving and departing very frequently, 
especially in the night; but last night, (29th), more so than 
usual, and my suspicions were aroused. Before daybreak, 
(30th), I instructed the brigade commanders and the field 
officer of the day, to feel forward as far as possible, but all 
reported the enemy’s pickets still in force in the dense woods 
to our front. But about six a. m., a curious explosion, 
sounding like a volley of large siege pieces, followed by 
others singly, and in twos and threes, arrested our attention, 
and soon after a large smoke arose from the direction of 
Corinth, when I telegraphed to General Halleck to ascertain 
the cause. He answered that he could not explain it, but 
ordered me to ‘ advance my division and feel the enemy, if still 
in my front.’ I immediately put in motion two regiments of 
each brigade by different roads, and soon after followed with 


EVACUATION OF CORINTH. 


85 


the whole division, infantry, artillery and cavalry. Somewhat 
to our surprise, the enemy’s chief redoubt was found within 
thirteen hundred yards of our line of intrenchments, but com¬ 
pletely masked by the dense forest and undergrowth. Instead 
of having, as we supposed, a continuous line of intrenchments 
encircling Corinth, his defenses consisted of separate redoubts, 
connected in part by a parapet and ditch, and in part by 
shallow rifle-pits; the trees being felled so as to give a good 
field of fire to and beyond the main road.” 

INTO CORINTH. 

Sherman continued: “ General Morgan L. Smith’s brigade 
moved rapidly down the main road, entering the first redoubt 
of the enemy at seven a. m., May 80th. It was completely 
evacuated, and he pushed on into Corinth and beyond, to 
College Hill, there awaiting my orders and arrival. General 
Denver entered the enemy’s lines at the same time, seven 
a. m., at a point midway between the wagon and railroads, 
and proceeded on to Corinth, about three miles from our 
camp ; and Colonel McDowell kept further to the right, near 
the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. By eight a. m., all my divi¬ 
sion was at Corinth, and beyond. 

“ On the whole ridge extending from my camp into Corinth, 
and to the right and'left, could be seen the remains of the 
abandoned camps of the enemy; flour and provisions scattered 
about, and every thing indicating a speedy and confused 
retreat. In the town itself, many houses were still burning, 
and the ruin of warehouses and buildings containing commis¬ 
sary and other Confederate stores were still smouldering; 
but there still remained piles of cannon balls, shells and 
shot, sugar, molasses, beans, rice and other property 
which the enemy had failed to carry off or destroy. Major 
Fisher, of the Ohio 54th, was left in Corinth with -a provost 
guard, to prevent pillage and protect the public stores still 
left. 

“ From the best information picked up from the few citizens 
who remained in Corinth, it appeared that the enemy had for 
some days been removing their sick and valuable stores, and 
had sent away on railroad cars a part of their effective force 
on the night of the 28th. But, of course, even the vast 


86 


THE INVESTMENT OF CORINTH. 


amount, of tlieir rolling stock could not carry away an army 
of a hundred thousand men. 

“ The enemy was, therefore, compelled to march away, and 
began the march by ten o’clock on the night of the 29th—the 
columns filling all the roads leading south and west all night; 
the rear-guard firing the train which led to the explosion and 
conflagration, which gave us the first real notice that Corinth 
was to be evacuated. The enemy did not relieve his pickets 
that morning, and many of them had been captured, who did 
not have the slightest intimation of their purpose. 

“ Finding Corinth abandoned by the enemy, I ordered 
General Morgan L. Smith to pursue on the Ripley road, by 
which it appeared they had taken the bulk of their artillery. 

“ Captain Hammond, my chief of staff, had been and con¬ 
tinued with General Smith’s brigade, and pushed the pursuit 
up to the bridges and narrow causeway, by which the bot¬ 
tom of Tuscumbia creek is passed. The enemy opened with 
canister on the small party of cavalry, and burned every 
bridge, leaving the woods full of straggling soldiers. Many 
of these were gathered up and sent to the rear, but the maiu 
army had escaped across Tuscumbia creek, and further pur¬ 
suit by a small f&rty would have been absurd, and I kept my 
division at College Hill until I received General Thomas’s 
orders to return and resume our camps of the night before; 
which we did, slowly and quietly, in the cool of the evening.” 

pope’s operations. 

Pope’s position pressed the enemy’s right, as we have seen, 
very closely, and met with a strong opposition. This oppo¬ 
sition delayed the storming of the Corinth intrenchments, as 
determined upon, on the 29tli. A correspondent who was with 
Pope’s division wrote: 

“Along our whole line the silence of the past night had 
been maintained. We knew on the left that Buell and Thomas 
held the creek, that Sherman had crossed the bridge on the 
Purdy road, and Nelson that on the main Corinth road. The 
work of bridging the swamp had begun, and had been finished 
during the night, and all waited for Pope. He is not a man 
to delay any one, and he quickly went to work to bring his 
line forward with that of the rebels. It had been hoped that 


pope’s operations. 


87 


the line would be so advanced on Wednesday night that the 
storming could be begun and finished on Thursday. But eight 
and nine o’clock came, and still the enemy opposed the left. 
It is now apparent why the resistance was so great on this 
wing. The retreat is said to have been by the Mobile and 
Ohio Railroad, and the purpose has been to obstruct the 
marching upon that point as long as possible. If rumors were 
to be believed, the rebels have found serious obstructions in 
the way of their retreat by that road. I heard on Wednesday 
night, and again on yesterday, that General James S. Jackson, 
in command of a brigade of cavalry, consisting of his own 
Kentucky regiment, the 2d Ohio and 1st Ohio, had pushed 
south for the purpose of obstructing the Mobile and Ohio Rail¬ 
road ; but you can not be sure of any thing that you hear in the 
camp. If this be. true, and the expedition shall succeed, the 
division which it is now ascertained we have been fighting 
may be captured.” * 

It was true, however. Pope, from his tree-top observations 
—[Why was Halleck not supplied with balloons for observa¬ 
tion?—one ascension on the 28tli would have revealed to him 
the enemy’s proceedings, and a general assault would have 
given him the bulk of the rebels as prisoners with most of this 
immense train of stores,]—had made up his mind that the 
evacuation was going on; and he had, therefore, dispatched 
the force of cavalry referred to (under Colonel Elliott, not 
General Jackson) to break the railroad in the rear of Corinth. 
The impatient and sharp-sighted General had no idea of 
allowing the entire force' and trains of Beauregard to escape 
entirely. 

On the night of the 28th, Pope erected a battery to match 
one which lay in his way, and promised to annoy him much, 
if not disposed of. The morning of the 29th found his heavy 
siege guns mounted, and a few hours sufficed to send the Con¬ 
federates back to their main intrenchment. The firing from 
Pope’s battery was ver} r precise. His artillery had had so 
much practice as to become “ sharpshooters” with thirty-two 
pounders. General Hamilton pressed forward to the outer 
edge of the intervening swamp and engaged the enemy’s 
outer line of pickets at long range. When the battery was 
relieved, Hamilton on the right and General Payne on the 


88 


THE INVESTMENT OF CORINTn. 


left pressed forward, and with a yell were now within the 
works; Corinth was twice won. 

GOOD FRIDAY. 

As already chronicled, Sherman was within the enemy’s 
breastworks early on Friday a. m. The entire line, however, 
was moving. Sherman was only one of the many divisions 
whom the early dawn found in line, ready for the last storm 
and hand-to-hand struggle—for such all believed it would 
prove—and for such a contest all were prepared. We may 
now reproduce the graphic picture of the marshaling of that 
mighty host, drawn by one who was present: 

“ On Thursday night we rested in possession of Seven-Mile 
creek, and within three hundred yards of the enemy’s works. 
On the left the 39th Ohio held the bridge of the road, by 
by which General Payne’s Illinois division crossed during the 
night. On the main Corinth road the 18tli Regulars and the 
9th Ohio shared the honor of taking the bridge with one of 
Wood’s regiments. Sherman had placed the brigade of Stuart, 
of the 55th Illinois, on the southern’ side of the bridge on the 
Purdy road, and the rest of his division were engaged in build¬ 
ing roads for the several brigades composing it. It was then 
evident that the morning must end the conflict. 

“ Friday morning dawned beautifully clear, pleasant, and 
cool. In the gray of the morning our labors began, and the 
advance was sounded along the whole line. The morning 
reveille had not been omitted. The first streak of coming light 
had aroused the drummer-boys on the left (Pope’s), away two 
miles to the east, and we heard his drums and the accom¬ 
panying fife play the inspiring air which has lost so much of 
its spirit by its too common use in camp. The next division 
caught up the sound and nearer it came. The twang of the 
horn in the camps of the artillery and cavalry mingled with 
the drums of the infantry in pleasing melody, and the whole 
army woke to the pleasant strain—pleasing on this morn, 
waking them, as it did, to the labor whose danger only makes 
it the more exciting and delightful. There were rations of 
grog, with the meat and hard bread (‘ Lincoln platforms,’ as 
the boys call the crackers); and each man, no doubt, felt the 
better for the draught; quickly, indeed, was that meal 


WHY DID THEY RUN? 


80 


dispatched. There was a desire on the part of the men to get 
out of the swamp. For two nights they had slept in their 
trenches ; they thirsted to sleep in those of the enemy. 

“ Noiselessly into line they forme# in the center. I watched 
the veterans of Mill Spring in the morning as they came into 
line. The ‘ bully Dutch’ of McCook toed the mark, with 
the Kentuckians of the 10th, and the tail, spare Minnesotians 
of the 2d Regiment formed on their left. There was silence 
and awe, and the men were serious as they stood there at a 
‘ restbut there was no flinching. Pipes were lighted after 
the morning meal, and still protruded from the lips of the 
brave fellows who puffed and looked serious. Men put huge 
chews of tobacco in their mouths, as if they thought it might 
be their last, or that that chew would have to last them all 
day. The human face is a wonderful study in such an hour 
as that of this morning’s dawn. 

“ The knapsacks were thrown from the shoulders and placed 
in huge piles in the rear. Men threw their blankets tied 
about them from their loins, and coats were dispensed with 
and shirt-sleeves rolled up. You could see the old crumpled 
letters taken from knapsacks and put into the pockets of the 
gray shirts which they wore ; and there were letters, newly 
written and carefully directed, disposed of, so that by them 
the body, if it should be lifeless when the sun set, might be 
identified. And then came the bugle, and men started as if 
startled from thought or sleep. The quick command—clear 
and loud—and all came to an ‘ order arms.’ The prelimina¬ 
ries were gone through with, and the line moved slowly for¬ 
ward. You know the rest—I have premised it in my preface 
to this letter. Up the hill at a double-quick—silently and 
swiftly, over the rifle-pit, on to the heavier works, across the 
ditch, over the walls with a spring and into the works with 
a cheer which told the story to the rest of the line. The 
works were empty. The rebels were gone, and left but the 
sign of their devastation behind them. 

why Did they run ? 

Corinth was, indeed, the enemy’s most precious possession. 
It’s importance was not overestimated by Johnson and Beau¬ 
regard, when they made it their defense. It was the key that 


90 THE INVESTMENT OE CORINTH. 

unlocked the Cotton States, and gave us command of almost 
the entire system of Southern railroads, and nothing but 
despair could have prompted its abandonment. While there 
was a shadow of hope for the Confederacy, policy would have 
compelled the insurgents to hold the town. Why did they 
not hold it, and make good their magniloquent addresses to 
the Confederate forces to “ stand by their country in that most 
momentous of modern moments ”—to “ protect the virtue and 
honor of their wives and daughters,” “ to hurl back the hire¬ 
lings whose presence was detestation to every true'Southern 
heart ?” Ah, that “ skedaddle ” only further illustrated the 
repeatedly demonstrated fact that the Southern leaders had 
practiced the art of falsehood and duplicity, to a perfection 
bordering on the sublime. As one who was on the ground 
wrote: 

“ The conduct of the rebels is indeed beyond comprehension ; 
here is a place commanding several important railroads; a 
place the seizure of which Beauregard confessed in his cele¬ 
brated dispatch to Davis, would open to us the valley of the 
Mississippi; a position capable of as .stubborn a defense as 
Sebastopol, and yet scarcely an effort is made to fortify it, and 
its possessors fly at our approach. The abettors of the rebel¬ 
lion in Europe are watching with eager interest every step 
made in this country, with a view of obtaining a recognition, 
at any favorable moment, of the bogus Confederacy. A stub¬ 
born resistance, even though followed by defeat, would com¬ 
mand respect abroad ; but a succession of evacuations, upon 
the slightest approach of danger, can insure only contempt. 

“All of the citizens of Corinth, and, I believe, of the 
rebel States, believed the place would be held at all hazards, 
and the chagrin and disappointment at its evacuation without 
a blow w r ere deep and bitter. I talked with several "who, up 
to that hour, had never faltered in their faith, but who now 
look upon their cause as past the remotest chance of a 
resurrection, and are adapting themselves to their new and 
changed circumstances. They say that if the South could not 
defend Corinth, they can not hold their ground at any other 
point, and it is idle to prolong a war which is desolating 
twelve States.” 


TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO CORINTH. 


91 


THE ONE PROUD MOMENT. 

A Cincinnati paper reporter, adverting to the sight which 
he beheld as the Federal arms all came sweeping into view 
before the rebel fortifications, said : 

“ About half-past six in the morning, orders to march were 
received, and at seven the greater portion of the men were 
outside their breastworks, cautiously feeling their way through 
the dense underbrush which intervened between our fortifica¬ 
tions and the defenses of Corinth ; but, after proceeding three- 
eighths of a mile, they came to an open space, and the enemy’s 
w T orks, abandoned and desolate, burst upon their astonished 
gaze. The sight was entirely unexpected. 

“ The opening was made by-the rebels, who had felled the 
timber for about three hundred yards in front of their 
intrenchments, for the double purpose of obstructing our 
progress and giving them a fair view of our column when 
within rifle-range. 

“ The view from the highest point of the rebel works 
immediately in front of Davies’, now Rosecrans’ division, was 
truly grand. The circle of vision was at least five miles in 
extent, stretching from the extreme right to the extreme left, 
and the magnificent display of banners, the bristling of shining 
bayonets, and the steady step of the handsomely-attired 
soldiers, presented a pageant which has seldom been witnessed 
on this continent. 

“ Upon many of the regimental ensigns were printed 
‘Wilson’s Creek,’ ‘Dug Springs,’ ‘Donelson,’ or ‘Shiloh/ and 
one or two wave all these mottoes in the breeze. Those who 
passed through all these trying ordeals, unscathed, or who 
received honorable wounds in either, in future can look back 
upon a life devoted to their country’s service, and feel that 
proud satisfaction which is denied to others not less patriotic, 
but less fortunate. In future pageants, in honor of the 
nation’s birthday, when the last relics of former struggles 
have become extinct, and when these shall be bowed down 
with age, they will bo their country’s honored guests, and 
receive that consideration due their noble deeds. 

“The troops from every direction marched toward a com¬ 
mon center—Corinth; and, as they neared each other, and 


92 


THE INVESTMENT OP CORINTH. 


friends recognized friends, whom they had not seen for weeks 
and months, though separated but a few miles, greetings were 
exchanged, and as regiments met for the first time since 
leaving the bloody fields of Donelson and Shiloh, cheer after 
cheer resounded through the forests, and were echoed and 
reechoed by the hills, as if the earth itself desired to prolong 
the sound.” 

Another correspondent w T rote, of the order of entry and the 
honors of “ first in the inclosure“ Lieutenant Baker, of the 
Yates sharpshooters, was the first man to enter the rebel 
works on the left. General Pope’s corps entered by the 
Farmington road, south of that, General Nelson by the main 
Corinth, and General W. T. Sherman by the Purdy road. 
The 27th Kentucky, of Nelson’s division, claims the honor of 
having been the first to enter Corinth. Colonel Stuart, of 
Chicago, is said to have first raised the flag upon the young 
ladies’ seminary, but Major Noyes, of the 24th Ohio, disputes 
it with him.” 

WEAKNESS OF THE FORTIFICATIONS. 

Halleck, in his dispatch to the Secretary of War announcing 
the capture, said : 

“ Head-quarters, Camp near Corinth, May 30. 

“ Eon. E. M. Stanton , Secretary of War: 

“ The enemy’s position and works in front of Corinth were 
exceedingly strong. He can not occupy a stronger position 
in his flight. This morning he destroyed an immense amount 
of public and private property, stores, provisions, wuigons, 
tents, etc. For miles out of the town, the roads are filled 
with arms, haversacks, etc., thrown away by Bis fleeing troops. 
A large number of prisoners and deserters have been captured, 
estimated by General Pope at two thousand. General Beau¬ 
regard evidently distrusts his army, or he would have defended 
so strong a position. His troops are generally much discour¬ 
aged and demoralized. In all the engagements for the last 
few days, their resistance has been slight. 

“ H. W. Halleck, Major-General Commanding.” 

This strength of position was conceded by newspaper corre¬ 
spondents, but the strength of fortifications was not conceded. 
The Cincinnati Times reporter said: 


WEAKNESS OF THE FORTIFICATIONS. 


93 


“ Nothing surprised me more than the character of the rebel 
works. From the length of time Beauregard’s army had been 
occupying the place, with a view to its defense, and from the 
importance the rebel General attached to it in his dispatch 
which was intercepted by General Mitchell, I had been led to 
suppose that the fortifications were really formidable. Slut 
such was not the case. I admire the engineering which dic¬ 
tated the position of the intrencliments, and the lines they 
occupied, but that is all that deserves the slightest commenda¬ 
tion. 

“ But a single line of general fortifications had been con¬ 
structed, and these were actually less formidable than those 
thrown up by our forces, last night, after occupying a new 
position. There were, beside this general line, occasional 
rifle-pits, both outside and inside the works, but they could 
have been constructed by the relief details in six hours. 

“ The only fortifications really worthy the name, were a 
few points where batteries were located, but these could not 
have resisted our Parrot and siege guns half an hour. Yet 
the positions occupied by the breastworks were capable of 
being strengthened so as to render them almost invulnerable 
to a’ front attack, and no little difficulty would have been 
experienced in flanking the position, either on the right or 
left. 

“ The works were' on the brow of a ridge, considerably 
higher than any in the surrounding country, and at the foot 
of it was a ravine correspondingly deep. The zig-zag course 
of the line gave the defenders the command of all the feasible 
approaches, and hundreds could have been mowed down at 
every step made«by an assailing army, even from the imper¬ 
fect earth-banks which had been thrown up. 

“ Had a fight occurred, it must have been decided by artil¬ 
lery, and in this respect we had the advantage, both in number 
and caliber of our guns; but had they improved the advan- 
tages they possessed, and fortified as men who really intended 
to make a stubborn defense, this superiority might have been 
overcome.” 

The same opinion was ventured by several other clear¬ 
headed observers. The New York Tribune reporter said: 

“ A good deal had been said about a formidable swamp in 


94 


THE INVESTMENT OP CORINTH. 


front of the enemy’s fortifications, hut nothing of the kind was 
noticed. The ‘ fortifications ’ hardly deserved the name. 
They were the simplest description of breastworks, hardly 
affording protection for infantry from musketry, not to speak 
of artillery. They are not half as strong as those constructed 
by'our troops in a single night. Their appearance indicated 
that they were hastily thrown up some time since—probably 
after the retreat of the rebels from the battle-field of Shiloh as 
a means of defense against an immediate attack by our forces 
—and could not have possibly been expected to prove a 
serious impediment to us. At several commanding points the 
ground had been seemingly prepared for heavy artillery, but 
there w^ere no positive indications of such ever having been 
placed in position. There were, however, embrasures for 
light pieces near the roads, and such seemed to have been put 
to use to cover the former. On the wiiole, the ‘ fortifications ’ 
afford the best possible evidence that Beauregard had no idea 
of running the risk of a battle before Corinth. 

“ The breastworks run over a succession of hills from a 
point near the Memphis and Charleston railroad east of Corinth 
to near the Purdy and Corinth road about a mile north of the 
“town. Their entire length is said to be five miles.” 

WAS THE CAMPAIGN WELL CONDUCTED? 

Want of caution like to have cost us the loss of an army at 
Pittsburg Landing—the exercise of too much caution lost us 
a great conquest at Corinth. If Pope had disobeyed orders 
and pushed his advantage of May 17th, he would have been 
in Corinth in sure earnest before the 20tli, and have secured 
rebels enough to make a Sodom of any ten square miles of 
territory where they might quarter. After a careful survey 
of the events of that investment and its conduct we are inclined 
to indorse the view of a writer, then on the field, who said: 

“ I have been led to admire the manner in which General 
Halleck conducted- the advance upon Corinth, and his precau¬ 
tion in fortifying at every resting-place. The wielding of the 
army has been admirable. But I can not commend his watch¬ 
fulness in not knowing the rebels were retreating, when we 
were within half a mile of their lines for forty-eight hours. A 
reconnoissance in force, at several points, to the distance of 


THE PURSUIT. 


95 


twenty rods beyond our pickets, would have discovered the 
whole facts. ' Of course, no other officer could order such a 
movement, and the responsibility must rest with the com¬ 
manding General, provided there has really been a blunder, 
and I believe the country will characterize his lack of watch¬ 
fulness as such.” 

That army should not have been allowed to escape, with 
all of its fine materiel , no more than the retreat from York- 
|own should have been allowed. We had forces enough in 
both instances, if they had been handled with rapidity and 
directness, to have prevented both catastrophes—which wc 
ever shall regard the evacuation, by the enemy, of Yorktown 
and Corinth to have been. Twenty thousand loyal men 
should have been left on the field rather than two hundred 
thousand rebels should have been allowed to escape to compel 
us to fight them somewhere else. 

THE PURSUIT. 

Beauregard’s retreat was to the south and west, by railway. 
The expedition of Colonel Elliott—already referred to—had 
been so far successful as to result in a material check to the 
retreat. Halleck telegraphed to the War Department under 
date of June 1st, Pope’s report of the expeditionas follows: 

“ It gives me pleasure to report the brilliant success of the 
expedition sent out on the 28th inst., under Colonel Elliott. 
With the 2d Iowa cavalry, after forced marches, day and 
night, through a very difficult country, and obstructed by the 
enemy, he finally succeeded in reaching the Mobile and Ohio 
Railroad at Boonesville at two o’clock a. m. On the 30th he 
destroyed the track in many places, both south and north of 
the town, blew up one culvert, destroyed the switch and track 
burned up the depot and locomotives, and a train of twenty- 
six cars loaded with supplies of every kind, destroyed ten 
thousand stand of small-arms, three pieces of artillery, and a 
great quantity of clothing and ammunition, and paroled two 
thousand prisoners, which he could not keep with his cavalry. 
The enemy had heard of his movements, and had a train of 
box-cars and flat-cars, with flying artillery and five thousand 
infantry, running up and down the road to prevent him from 
reaching it. The -whole road was lined with pickets for sev- 


96 THE INVESTMENT OF CORINTH. 

eral days. Colonel Elliott’s command subsisted upon meat 
alone, such as they could find in the country. For daring and 
dispatch, this expedition has been distinguished in the highest 
degree, and entitles Colonel Elliott and his command to high 
distinction. Its results will be embarrassing to the enemy, 
and contribute greatly to their loss and demoralization. He 
reports the roads full of small parties of the retreating enemy, 
scattering in all directions. 

“ (Signed) John Pope, Major-General. m 

“H. W. Halleck, Major-General Commanding.” 

And further dispatches of Halleck to the Department, dated 
June 4th, indicated the results of the few days’ doings of 
Pope’s division : 

“ General Pope, with forty thousand men, is thirty miles 
south of Corinth, pushing the enemy hard. 

“ He already reports ten thousand prisoners, and deserters 
from the army, and fifteen thousand stand of arms captured. 

“ Thousands of the enemy are throwing away their arms. 

“ A farmer says that when Beauregard learned that Colonel 
Elliott had cut the railway on the line of retreat, he became 
frantic, and told his men to save themselves the best way they 
could. 

“We have captured nine locomotives and a number of cars. 
One of the former is already repaired and is running to-day. 
Several more will be in running order in two or three days. 
The result is all I can possibly desire.” 


the end. 



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